02 Jan 2024 20:35:02
Hi eds heard from an arsenal mate that Arteta is keen on signing Jones this summer. Any truth in this?

{Ed002's Note - Curtis Jones (CM) I am not aware of any approach to Liverpool by Arsenal at this time but I am aware that his agent says assurances were given when a new contract was signed that he would not remain a bit part player at the club - whilst he remains very much on the fringes.}

1.) 03 Jan 2024
03 Jan 2024 09:32:06
Jones won’t be leaving and would cost any team 80 million plus can’t see anyone ready to pay that. Thank God.

2.) 03 Jan 2024
03 Jan 2024 11:07:03
Is he ‘still very much on the fringes’? Seems very much a first team regular now.

{Ed002's Note - He is not a regular starter with the likes of Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Elliott and Thiago ahead of him when all fit.}

3.) 03 Jan 2024
03 Jan 2024 12:03:41
A lot of that is down to his own injury issues, he always seems to get a good run of form and then breaks down with an injury and then has to work his way back into the team and that’s how it should be for everyone.
Let’s hope injuries are behind him and he continues to play like this for the second half of the season.

4.) 03 Jan 2024
03 Jan 2024 12:04:16
If he plays like he did against Newcastle he will become a first choice starter.

5.) 03 Jan 2024
03 Jan 2024 12:33:30
Jones plays in the left 8 position. The only player directly competing with him for this spot is gravenberch. Maybe Thiago also when fit, but he will be dropped into games sparingly for the remainder of the season I feel. Jones isn't on the fringes at alll, one of the first names on the team sheet on current form. Klopps recent selections show this too with his selection in key games so far this season.

{Ed002's Note - The "left 8 position" eh? He is hardly "one of the first names on the teamsheet" - how many minutes has he played so far this season? Would he be starting these games if Mac Allister were fit?

6.) 03 Jan 2024
03 Jan 2024 14:08:10
Ed002, if all were fit, don't you think Klopp would still be putting Macca into the 6 role more often than not?
As good as he has been, I can't see Endo starting most games with Macca and am not sure Klopp's first choice midfield would be Endo, Macca and Szoboslai.

{Ed002's Note - I understand Endo has done very well - well enough for the club to not be looking at Trindade, Phillips etc. any longer.}

7.) 03 Jan 2024
03 Jan 2024 14:39:39
There are not that many nailed on starters in this team.
Salah, VVD, AB, TAA, Robertson (when fit) and probably that's it.
1 centre back from Konate, JG, Quansah and Matip (before injury)

Probably 3 mids from Endo, Mac, Szobo, Graven, Jones.
If Endo nailed the no. 6, then together I see Szobo and Mac as the first choice, but Jones and Graven will see plenty of time. Just like JG will do in defence. In fact, I do not think eiter Mac and Szobo have done enough to nail down a definite starting position
So, Jones should have a good chance still if he stay fit and consistent to nail down a position.

Same situation up front.
Who would you say is the first choice 3.
Unlike Firmino, Mane and Salah, now, it is really a good fight between Diaz, Nunez, Gakpo and Jota.
Diaz seemed to have edged ahead, and Gakpo.
And then Nunez jumped the queue, and Jota was missed when unavailable.

I think it is a healthy dynamics.
Have we had a fit Thiago, I would say the team barring freak accidents like those happening to our 2 left backs, we are well stocked.

8.) 03 Jan 2024
03 Jan 2024 14:47:53
That pretty confirms what I feared. Endo is now our #1 DM, with Mac Allister to moonlight there. Add to that Endo will be away until mid-Feb as Japan and no date for Bajcetic return. They sure are very relaxed about it all. More than me anyway.

9.) 03 Jan 2024
03 Jan 2024 15:17:01
It’s going very well but when you have 5 midfielders out that is obviously a massive potential issue. Curtis now will get the game time he craves. He only has a handful of PL goals and assists to his name now is his time to really kick on.

10.) 03 Jan 2024
03 Jan 2024 15:33:45
Jones has made 19 appearances in all competitions this season. 12 in the premier league but he did have the suspension and a small injury I think. I think he has moved up in the pecking order, I hope he has at least because I think he's been very good this season and it's always nice to see the local lads do well.

11.) 03 Jan 2024
03 Jan 2024 16:13:20
Jones plays on the left side of the midfield 3. Soboz plays on the right and macallister plays at the 6.

They don’t interchange often due to the relationships built between the left back and left winger and same for the right side. Nothing too complicated here to grasp.

Unless we do buy a player like Andre, which will then move macallister into jones position, I think jones will play first choice over gravenberch.

Jones has played started 7 games this year in the PL but don’t forget he was injured for 4 games and suspended for 3 so that figure should be lots higher. He’s only been an unused sub once all season.

12.) 03 Jan 2024
03 Jan 2024 17:59:56
I think for Jones to become a regular he has to better more often. He seems to string a few good games then goes off the boil. If he plays like he did against Newcastle regularly they’d be no discussion. For me he should be ahead of Gravenberch who has been the least good acquisition. Endo is doing well and has surprised me and all credit to him.

13.) 03 Jan 2024
03 Jan 2024 18:17:56
For me Endo has made the 6 his to lose now. He's come on leaps. Jones on current form I don't see how he wouldn't be first choice. Grav has some nice parts to his game but has been poor of late. Nice to have the competition for places. One injury tho is all it takes to make the decisions easier for Klopp.

14.) 03 Jan 2024
03 Jan 2024 19:01:44
The only thing stopping jones being a regular is his injuries.

15.) 03 Jan 2024
03 Jan 2024 19:06:32
Would be great to have them all fully fit at some point this season. Baj would definitely start for me.

16.) 03 Jan 2024
03 Jan 2024 19:25:45
Ed002 didn't say Jones was promised to be a regular starter. He said he wouldn't be a bit part player and he isn't. LFC have played in 29 games so far this season. Jones has played in 19 of them and ranks 15th in the squad for both matches played and total minutes accrued, all that with an injury to boot. It is obvious that Klopp rates him and for me he is first choice midfielder at the moment given Szlobs recent dip. He's obviously not a bit part player so nothing to see here.

17.) 03 Jan 2024
03 Jan 2024 19:30:33
And the suspension of course. Forgot about that.

18.) 03 Jan 2024
03 Jan 2024 22:15:57
Jones has been available for 21 games and featured in 19 of them. 12 of them were starts including against Spurs, Newcastle, City, Villa and Arsenal. So not only is he not a bit part player, Klopp also trusts him in nearly every big game he's been available for.

19.) 04 Jan 2024
04 Jan 2024 12:08:46
Jones has become a regular starter as much as you can be in a top premier league team. No top team will play the same players week in week out so if anyone is expecting to never be dropped then they might have an issue wherever they go.

To say that Jones is still on the fringes though is just ludicrous. He is fast becoming one of the best midfield players we have and the amount of times he’s picked in big games proves it.

20.) 04 Jan 2024
04 Jan 2024 17:58:20
Fringes may not be the best way to describe Jones current situation, but you can't say his future is all that clear either. The club is actively looking for another midfielder to play in the role that MacAllister has been covering this year, and should one be added, Mac's going to be first choice on the left side of that midfield 3. Gravenberch is going to still get a lot of minutes too. Jones would give Arsenal something is currently lacks in its midfield, so a move could make sense.

Do I want to see him leave? Of course not. But it may make sense for him to do so, if he wants to get minutes in a PL/ CL contending side.

21.) 04 Jan 2024
04 Jan 2024 17:59:05
Mac Alister is being used as a 6, Dom is playing primarily on the right, as is Elliot who isn’t a guaranteed starter anyway, Gravenberch seems destined to start from the bench and Thiago hasn’t played in nearly a year. Jones on the other hand, was a regular starter for the last three months of last season and has started on a regular basis on the left hand side. this season - the only real exception being when he was suspended. Maybe your notes on the squad need a bit of tweaking.

22.) 04 Jan 2024
04 Jan 2024 18:00:02
The main 3 midfielders when all fit have been Jones, Dom and Mac in the 6. Even last year it seemed Jones had cemented his place in the first team when he was fit to play and this year he's kicked on even more.

23.) 04 Jan 2024
04 Jan 2024 18:01:39
@MK, after the Newcastle match Klopp called Jones the leader for our pressing game. Just another fishing trip.

24.) 05 Jan 2024
05 Jan 2024 18:25:40
Touchy Touchy ?.

25.) 05 Jan 2024
05 Jan 2024 20:19:31
What’s touchy about correcting something that is factually incorrect? Aren’t we all supposed to be grown-ups?