Arne Slot singles out Liverpool player for recent form and sends 'smarter' warning

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The Reds have put together a four-match winning run, all while facing Slot has faced a selection crisis. Several players have come to the fore, and the Liverpool head coach was asked about one ahead of the Leeds game

Arne Slot has praised Curtis Jones ahead of the Leeds game(Image: Getty Images)

Arne Slot feels Curtis Jones exemplifies Liverpool’s recent upturn in form, and said the midfielder’s ability to put in consistent performances has been imperative given the Reds’ lack of options.

Liverpool has struggled with a recent injury outbreak that resulted in four players being ruled unavailable for last weekend’s win over Wolverhampton Wanderers, while Dominik Szoboszlai was suspended and Mohamed Salah is currently at the Africa of Nations.

Conor Bradley and Cody Gakpo were also only deemed fit enough to be named on a substitutes’ bench that included two goalkeepers, three teenagers and Calvin Ramsay, who has never made a Premier League appearance.

The dearth of options has resulted in Slot primarily selecting the same players in recent weeks. Despite those hurdles, Liverpool has put together a four-match winning run and is unbeaten in the last seven.

Jones has been at the heart of that, quite literally, given his constant presence in the center of the park across the last four games. He has impressed in a deeper role and found his niche by retaining possession and dictating Liverpool’s pace and flow on the ball.

The 24-year-old recently played his 200th game for the club, and Slot was asked about his form ahead of the New Year’s Day encounter against Leeds United.

Jones has played an integral role in recent weeks(Image: Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

“I think that's always one of his main qualities, that he always wants to have the ball no matter what the situation is,” said the Dutchman.

“That is 99 out of 100 times very positive. Sometimes it is also smarter to maybe stay away from the ball or not bring yourself in a difficult situation.

“But even if it's a really difficult situation, he had one in the corner [against Wolves], he was able to bring himself out of the situation and play the ball to Ryan [Gravenberch].

Slot praised Jones' important role in Liverpool team

“I think the first and most positive thing for him is that he's able to stay fit for four or five games in a row now and he's played indeed 90 minutes every single time.

“That might have to do a bit with his performance but if you look at our bench you didn't see any player that is a midfielder that has played more than 10 minutes in the Premier League so far,” Slot added.

“That's why I'm so pleased with our current results, because if we would've dropped points people would probably talk about the fact of how many players we miss.

“But we don't drop points and that's why no-one is talking about the players we miss. Maybe because they only talk about how much we spend [last summer].”

A win for Liverpool against Leeds would see it move five points clear of fifth-place Chelsea after the Blues and Manchester United both dropped points on Tuesday.