Curtis Jones has been one of the heroes of Liverpool’s mini December revival.
The midfielder racked up his 200th appearance for the Reds on Saturday, completing a third straight 90 minutes during the 2-0 win over Brighton.
Arne Slot’s new diamond midfield formation appears to suit Jones down to the ground, giving him licence to get on the ball as much as possible.
200 appearances in red for Curtis Jones 😍 What do you think the future holds for the Scouser?
Although the 24-year-old is a silky operator in possession, he has faced criticism throughout his Liverpool career for not knowing the best time to release a pass.
Now in a position which allows him a little more freedom in that respect, Jones has answered the burning question of why he loves to hold onto the ball for so long.
Curtis Jones responds to Liverpool critics
Reaching 200 senior appearances after coming through the Liverpool academy is a big achievement for Jones.
Still, there remains a feeling that he can do so much more for the Reds, starting with knowing when to hold the ball and when to let it go.
Speaking to LFCTV after Saturday’s win, however, Jones suggested that he will not be changing the way he plays and offered an explanation for why he sometimes appears to be hogging possession.
“I’m just one of them who just loves to play, I just enjoy having the ball at my feet,” said the Scouser.
“I’ve obviously heard that there’s criticism at times that I don’t move the ball quick enough and that’s just because I’m comfortable on the ball. I don’t want to be in a rush and then I give a lad a ball who’s not as comfortable as me on the ball and then he’s in a little bit of a challenge and gets the blame.
“I’d rather just take it on me and know that a lad who comes to press me is going to have to do an awful lot to take the ball off me.”
Who was your man of the match during Liverpool’s impressive 2-0 win over Brighton?
Does Jones’ explanation stand up to scrutiny?
It is fine that Jones loves the ball, and it is part of what makes him such an intriguing player. On Saturday, for example, he executed four Cruyff turns in a row while under pressure in the Liverpool box.
Having said that, Jones is playing for Liverpool. Every player on the team is comfortable receiving the ball anywhere on the pitch.
Some may not be quite as happy being pressed as he is, but they all know what to do when faced with an opposition challenge. It is not an excuse.
There are also times when despite his comfort, Jones appears to enjoy being pressed a little too much, trying to shield for far too long before eventually being tackled. Releasing an early pass could avoid that situation.
Jones is arguably in some of the best form of his Liverpool career and looks to have finally found his place under Slot, but he still needs to learn that there is a time and a place to keep possession.
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