England supporters have shared their opinions on Curtis Jones after the Liverpool midfielder started in a 1-0 win over Andorra on Saturday evening. Manager Thomas Tuchel raised eyebrows with an unusual starting XI at the Estadi Nacional, featuring the likes of Jordan Henderson, Noni Madueke, and Morgan Rogers.
The most surprising selection was Jones, who took up the right-back role despite more natural options like Reece James (who played on the left), Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kyle Walker, and Trevor Chalobah all being available on the bench. Following a generally underwhelming team display, fans weighed in on the 24-year-old’s performance.
Jones Wins Fans Over in Defensive Role
Jones, a Premier League champion, was one of the few standout players on the night.
Although named as a defender, Tuchel clarified before kick-off that he wanted Jones to play more advanced in possession, effectively acting as an extra central midfielder. Jones followed that directive, adding creativity to the side with incisive passes and composed play. He regularly found teammates making runs behind the defence and maintained control as England looked to break down a compact Andorra side.
During his 81-minute outing, Jones completed 97% of his passes and created two clear chances—one of which led to the match-winning goal when he slipped a ball through to Harry Kane, who scored after a second attempt.
Defensively, Jones impressed as well, winning five of his seven duels and making three successful tackles without being dribbled past. While the opposition was not particularly strong, supporters were quick to praise the Liverpool man for adapting well to an unfamiliar position.
One fan posted on social media: “I know it’s just Andorra but Curtis Jones has been amazing—by far the best player on the pitch. Very underrated.” Another wrote: “Curtis Jones more than holds his own in this England side.”
Additional reactions included: “Well done Curtis Jones, great display,” and even, “Curtis Jones, you have changed my life.”
His strong showing raises questions about the role of former Liverpool teammate Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is set to join Real Madrid. With Tuchel stating that he already has 16 names locked in for the 2026 World Cup squad, Jones’ inclusion and performance could signal that Alexander-Arnold still has work to do to secure his spot.