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Arne Slot says Curtis Jones has a high quality he and Liverpool’s sporting director Richard Hughes “speak loads about” as they eye new signings in the summertime.
Jones was arguably Man of the Match in Liverpool’s 1-0 victory over Everton in midweek, and did so within the unfamiliar place of right-back.
It was solely his second begin within the function – nearly two years on from his final – however the pure midfielder impressed along with his defensive consciousness and skill in possession.
The flexibleness he provides is clearly useful to Slot, with the top coach revealing in his pre-Fulham press convention that the power to play completely different positions is essential to his talks on signings with Hughes.
“That’s very helpful for me,” Slot defined on Thursday.
“In fact, me and Richard speak loads about this season and subsequent season, and it’s good to have versatile gamers. And Curtis is certainly one among them.
“He has a skillset that he can defend, he can assault. That’s why he can play in so many positions.
“And he has this mentality, for those who give him a problem, he likes to be challenged. Yesterday was a problem for him, as a result of it wasn’t his regular place.
“Some gamers hate to be challenged, they need to keep of their consolation zone, however Curtis is the kind of participant who needs to be challenged.
“In the event you problem him, for those who inform him he’s taking part in towards the perfect English midfielder under-21 (Cole Palmer) or one thing like this and I need to see the way you do towards that, then he’s up for the problem.
“I didn’t ask him to face up towards Doucoure after the away recreation, however he likes these challenges as properly!
“So, good to have him, now it’s as much as him – if I play him once more [at right-back] on Sunday – that it’s not one time exhibiting your self, as a result of consistency is the factor which brings you from good to nice.
“That’s now, if I play him once more, what he has to indicate on Sunday.”
Jones’ versatility had hamstrung him in his earlier years in Liverpool’s first staff, denying him the possibility to nail down a beginning spot in any place.
However the 24-year-old has cemented himself amongst Slot’s common choices and is now on track to interrupt his document tally of minutes in a single season.
Slot’s testomony to his character – as a participant who “likes to be challenged” – shone by means of as Jones spoke with Optus Sport after the Merseyside derby.
“On the finish of the day, I see myself as a ten or an eight, however I’m a footballer,” he stated.
“If I’m taking part in eight, if I’m taking part in 10, if I’m taking part in off the left, if I’m taking part in as a false 9 which I’ve performed as properly, as a defender, it’s high quality, I’ll go on the market.
“I’m a lad who research the sport loads. It’s not that I research lads in defence however listening to what lads are being informed, I simply take all of it in.
“I performed an vital recreation and I believe it was alright, yeah!”
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