Jurgen Klopp has admitted that he hadn’t planned on starting Curtis Jones for Liverpool against Nottingham Forest today.
Speaking in his post-match press conference via liverpoolfc.com, Klopp said that Jones wasn’t supposed to play.
“I thought Curtis did really but is not used to the position. He can play that definitely, but he was not even in my thoughts to start, so that all happened last night. But he did really well,” admitted the Liverpool manager.
Whether Jones did well or not is pretty much a moot point. The 21-year-old was by no means the worst player on the pitch for Liverpool – that was Joe Gomez – but he didn’t offer enough as the Reds fell to a 1-0 defeat.
Jones not the answer for Liverpool today
It was a surprise to see Jones line up for Liverpool this afternoon. The youngster played his first minutes of the season in midweek and probably wasn’t ready for 90 minutes.
But that’s what he got this afternoon as Liverpool were humiliated in Nottingham.
With Jordan Henderson being managed carefully, Klopp’s admission would suggest that Thiago Alcantara was in-line to start at the City Ground.
But as the Spaniard was struck down in the early hours of this morning with an ear infection, Jones got the nod.
For some, this was maybe a bad sign right from the off. As Klopp acknowledges, the academy graduate isn’t used to playing in a midfield two, and that showed at times.
On a day where they needed to match Nottingham Forest physically, Jones looked like an awkward fit.
Nevertheless, the fact that he got 90 minutes under his belt will have been pleasing to the manager. He can certainly be useful in Liverpool’s new formation but could be more suited to a spot out wide.
It’s good to have Jones back, certainly. But on a day like today, Liverpool badly needed to have used some of their more senior players.
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