Jamie Carragher thinks that Jurgen Klopp may make wholesale changes for Liverpool’s game against Everton on Sunday, including recalling Curtis Jones.
The Reds have a packed fixture list full to the brim with make-or-break games. Speaking to The Gary Neville Podcast after Liverpool’s 4-0 win last night, Carragher said that he feels Sunday would be as good-a-chance as any for Klopp to rest some of his bug guns.
“I think Jurgen Klopp may actually take the emotion out of it,” said Carra. “He has got to be brave between now and the end of the season.
“He can’t play the same eight or nine players every game when there’s still 11 games to go, if they get to everywhere they want to get to. I think he may look at that game (against Everton) and say I may need to brave in this game and say this is a team who are actually fourth of fifth from bottom.
“If we were playing Leeds or Brentford I’d make five or six changes. The actual nine that he has who are set in stone, I think we could see a game where Tsimikas comes in, Firmino and Jota play, maybe Curtis Jones plays. I think it could be that one.”
Seen through logical terms, Carragher’s assertion makes perfect sense. Everton aren’t in a good place at the moment and Liverpool most certainly are. The Reds should have enough by playing some of the names Carra mentions there, some of who are actually in brilliant form.
Then again, this is the derby and you just never know. Big decisions to make for Klopp.
Jones waiting for his chance
Such is the depth of talent available to Klopp when everyone is fit, Curtis Jones hasn’t had all that much of a look-in this season.
At times it can be easy to forget just what a talent the 21-year-old is. He has had a couple of disruptive injury lay-offs this season but by and large he has been available to Klopp.
Eight starts and five further Premier League appearances amount to 700 minutes for the Scouser. That has yielded a single goal and assist for Jones in that time.
That isn’t necessarily a bad haul, but he maybe hasn’t kicked on enough from the 1,179 minutes he racked up in the competition last season, including 13 starts.
There were differing circumstances between the seasons of course. A lot of Jones’ minutes in 2020/21 came about while his midfield colleagues were having to fill-in in central defence.
Still, the England U21 international may have been expecting a touch more game time than he has seen.
Harvey Elliott is sure to play a bigger part next season, and there are constant rumours of Liverpool bringing in another midfielder in the summer. If Jones does get a chance to impress against Everton on Sunday, he better be sure to take it.
A stunning goal against The Toffees in 2020 truly announced himself to the Liverpool fanbase. Jones may now need something similarly spectacular to insert himself back into Klopp’s thoughts this season.
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