Arne Slot makes Curtis Jones claim after admitting Liverpool midfielder has 'stepped up'
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot was full of praise for Curtis Jones after the 4-0 Champions League demolition of Bayer Leverkusen at Anfield
Arne Slot praised Curtis Jones following another impressive display from the midfielder in Liverpool’s 4-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen. Recalled to the starting XI, the 23-year-old assisted the opening goal for Luis Diaz just after the hour-mark.
Jones now boasts a goal and three assists from 12 appearances so far this season, but has only started more regularly since the October international break after an injury-disrupted start to the campaign.
Speaking after defeating Leverkusen, Slot admitted that Jones is playing with real confidence at the moment and believes he is capable of playing anywhere in midfield - despite a shaky first impression when taking charge of his first match back in pre-season.
“What a pass from Curtis Jones!” the Liverpool head coach said. “I think many of them have lots of goals and assists.
“I still learn on a daily basis about every player and Curtis is one of them. When I started off, first game I played him as a six, which you didn’t see because it was behind closed doors, but that wasn’t his best game. In general from us but him as well.
“I think he can, at this moment, play in every position because he is in a very good place at the moment. So comfortable on the ball so you can trust him closer to your defence.
“But like we saw against Chelsea and I saw today as well, he is also able to penetrate the 18-yard box and give the last pass.
“He’s really made a step up after pre-season and that’s also why he gets his chances now. Because if players do well, and I have a lot of them at the moment, they will get their chances.”