Arne Slot Simply Can’t Bench Him Now — Liverpool Ace Forces the Manager’s Hand After Inter Milan Heroics
Liverpool returned to winning form in the Champions League with a hard-fought 1-0 win at the San Siro over last season’s runners-up, Inter Milan. Arne Slot’s men produced a much-improved performance, and one player in particular earned huge praise for his display.
The match wasn’t without controversy. Liverpool saw Ibrahima Konaté’s first-half header ruled out after the ball brushed Hugo Ekitike’s hand — a decision Mark Clattenburg labelled harsh. But fortune swung back Liverpool’s way later when VAR spotted a slight shirt pull on Florian Wirtz in the box. What initially looked like nothing was eventually judged a penalty, and Dominik Szoboszlai buried it confidently from the spot to secure a crucial three points.
Several Liverpool players stepped up — Andy Robertson, Alexis Mac Allister and Konaté all looked more assured than they’ve been for much of the season.
But the standout performer was local lad Curtis Jones. Long viewed as a rotation player rather than a guaranteed starter, he may have changed that narrative in Milan. He completed 96% of his 70 passes, bringing control and calmness to Liverpool’s midfield. Slot’s switch to a diamond system — with no natural winger and four central midfielders — seemed to unlock Jones’ game. It allowed him to show off his sharp dribbling (three out of three completed) while still dropping deep to help build play.
Jones now appears to be growing into a top-level midfielder, and his performance will surely boost his chances of starting against Brighton. On the night, he was arguably the best of Liverpool’s four central midfielders.
Liverpool fans were full of praise online, many insisting he must now be a regular starter under Slot. One user wrote:
“Curtis Jones has been our best midfielder after Szoboszlai this season. One of Liverpool’s best players right now. I still don’t get why the fanbase is so split on him.”
Another simply said:
“Curtis Jones is an incredible footballer.”
Others highlighted how the new shape suits him, with one fan saying:
“Szoboszlai has been our player of the season, but Jones has been excellent whenever he’s played. A Gravenberch-Jones-Szoboszlai-Wirtz midfield four is a no-brainer right now.”
Some supporters even argued he should be starting every match:
“Curtis Jones should play every game. He’s ready. He’s stepped up off the pitch too, taking interviews and acting like a leader. This is his season.”
Another echoed the sentiment:
“Curtis Jones is phenomenal. Not playing him enough has been one of Slot’s big mistakes. He should be a guaranteed starter for a team that needs control on the ball.”