Liverpool will likely have to wait for much further into the season before they know just how good the point they earned against Arsenal was.
On the surface, coming back from behind twice to come away from the Emirates with a draw looks like a more than good result.
But given the way the game went, with Arsenal ending the match fielding a makeshift back four, Liverpool fans might have felt their team could have kicked on for the three points.
Nevertheless, there were some hairy moments going the other way, too.
Arsenal were well on top for much of the first-half, with the Gunners able to cut through Liverpool far too easily.
Plenty of their joy came down the Liverpool right and former Reds defender Stephen Warnock has highlighted an issue with Curtis Jones as possible cause for that.
Stephen Warnock highlights Curtis Jones issue
Jones has been in good form recently. Having put in a man of the match display against Chelsea a week previously, it was no surprise to see the 23-year-old start against Arsenal.
With Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch the two deeper-lying midfielders, Jones was tasked with playing the ‘Dominik Szoboszlai’ role a little further up the pitch.
Throughout the first-half especially, though, this didn’t really work. It was noticeable how often Arsenal were finding space in front of and behind Gravenberch and Mac Allister.
And speaking on Sky Sports, Warnock admitted that he wasn’t really sure what Arne Slot was thinking by using Jones in this way.
READ MORE: Arne Slot hints Liverpool star is about to get a lot more game-time
“What was interesting, I know we can’t ask him and find out, but I just wonder what the idea was playing Curtis Jones so high, beyond Darwin Nunez at times in the press and it just left Liverpool very vulnerable in midfield,” said the former full-back.
“Especially away from home against Arsenal who are so strong and so good at rotating the team.
“I know he altered it a bit in the second-half but it took him a long time to suss it out and that was my concern, how long it took.”
What is Curtis Jones’ best role?
During his days in the Liverpool academy, Jones was often used as a much more attacking player.
As a result, this is a role that the Scouser should, in theory, be able to play quite comfortably.
But since his ascension to the first-team Liverpool squad, most of Jones’ better performances have come playing from a deeper position.
Regardless of that, with Harvey Elliott’s recovery taking longer than expected, you can understand why Slot is utilising Curtis higher up the pitch.
Maybe away at Arsenal was the wrong time to do that, though. If the Liverpool head coach had his time again, perhaps he’d choose to pack his midfield a little more than he did. Still, it’s all learning and the Reds got away with it.
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