Arne Slot was seemingly unaware that Curtis Jones had experience of playing at right-back before selecting him to play there in Wednesday’s Merseyside derby.
Injuries to Trent Alexander-Arnold and Conor Bradley have forced Arne Slot to improvise on the right side of defense over the last couple of games, with Jarell Quansah lining up there for the Carabao Cup final before Jones was given the nod against Everton.
Jones impressed against the Toffees and Slot suggested that he didn’t know the 24-year-old had played there previously. Jones came on as a substitute right-back in games against Arsenal and Brighton in 2020, before captaining the Reds in an EFL Cup victory over Leicester last season.
“He told me earlier in the season when I was planning to use him in that position that he had played that position with Jurgen [Klopp],” Slot revealed. “Curtis showed today that he can play there very well in a game like this.”
Neither Alexander-Arnold nor Bradley is expected to return any time soon, meaning Jones could be utilized at right-back a few times during the title run-in, a prospect which Slot is seemingly fine with.
“It is very useful to me,” Slot said. “[Liverpool sporting director] Richard [Hughes] and myself talk a lot about this season and next season and it is nice to have versatile players. Curtis is definitely one of them. He has a skillset, that he can defend and attack and that is why he can play in so many positions.
(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
“When you give him a challenge, he enjoys it whereas some players would rather stay in their comfort zone. It isn’t his normal position but he is the type of player to take on the challenge. It is up to him, if I play him again [against Fulham] on Sunday, to show that consistency. He did well but Jarell did well in that position also so let’s see what decision we make on Sunday.”
Jones himself said that he was happy to help the team, despite wanting to play in a more advanced position. “It was just one of those things I say all the time — at the end of the day, I’m a footballer,” he said. “Of course I want to play eight or 10 — or false nine or off the left or anything like that — [but] I just want to go and play and help the team as much as I can.
“As I said, of course I want to play eight or 10 or even six but there are lads in there who are doing a fantastic job so I’ve just got to wait for my chance. Of course I back myself all the time but at the end of the day it is the choice of the manager and his staff, and he knows what he thinks is best for the team. I respect that and I just always wait until he needs me.”
