As Liverpool finally look to be getting back to their flying best, some added creativity is something that is still lacking in the side.
Having gone four Premier League games without a goal, the Reds bounced back with two consecutive wins against Tottenham and West Ham as they scored six goals combined.
Mohamed Salah scored two against West Ham, while Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Gini Wijnaldum also got on the scoresheet while Trent Alexander-Arnold was able to fire himself back into form too.
It’s a start to curing bigger issues, but one of their stand-out midfield performers this season has been Curtis Jones and he will have a big role to play going forward too.
Defensively Liverpool have struggled due to countless injuries, while both their star full-backs seemed to lose form at the same time. Thiago’s return from injury added some creativity and distribution to the midfield area, but with so many parts of the machine not quite up to scratch he struggled too.
Against Spurs the full-backs were better and with Mourinho just outright refusing to attack, the energy in midfield was enough to win the game as well as the attackers finding their scoring boots again.
But in other games where teams have adopted a low block and tried to counter, Jones would have been the perfect remedy. His ability to pick a pass, dribble past a defender and eye for goal make him the ideal man to feature in those scenarios, but Klopp has insisted on experience in tough times.
But with Liverpool improving again, Jones’ reintroduction to the side could be exactly what helps fire them on a winning run.
With the deadline day signings of Ozan Kabak and Ben Davies bolstering their centre back options, Klopp should be able to move at least one of Jordan Henderson or Fabinho back into midfield.
The added defensive security in that position will allow Thiago Alcantara to move into a more advanced role, rather than playing as the deepest midfielder, but it should also allow some extra attacking impetus alongside him.
Currently the role is filled by Wijnaldum more often than not, but with the Dutchman most likely to leave the club at the end of the current season on a free transfer the integration period for Jones could start now.
He is already good enough to hold down a place in the lineup against most opposition and it would allow him to get even more experience ahead of the new campaign. A half-season run in the team would allow the club to see if they need to invest in a new midfielder to replace Wijnaldum or if their replacement is in the squad already.
Jones’ stocks are rising among fans, media and club. He has got plenty of talent and is arguably the best talent outside of Alexander-Arnold to come out of the Melwood academy since the likes of Steven Gerrard and Michael Owen.
If Liverpool are to keep their good run of form going and continue to score goals, Jones deserves a chance to be trusted as a fully fledged member of the first-team squad.
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