Jurgen Klopp insists that Curtis Jones can thrive in a deeper role as Premier League giants Liverpool look for a ‘number six’ to replace the departed Fabinho and Jordan Henderson.
During their respective press conferences ahead of Liverpool’s pre-season friendly clash with Bayern Munich on Wednesday, both Jurgen Klopp and opposite number Thomas Tuchel found themselves united by the same concern.
The Bundesliga champions, Tuchel sighed, ‘do not have a holding number who thinks defensively and is more concerned with (providing) protection’. Following the departures of Fabinho and Henderson to Saudi Arabia last month, Liverpool suddenly find themselves a little light in the very same area of the pitch.
And with Southampton holding out for £50 million for Romeo Lavia, the responsibility could fall onto Curtis Jones’ shoulders against Bayern in midweek; a player who burst onto the scene as a ball-carrying ‘number eight’ tasked with adding another – more defensive – string to his bow for the time being.
Curtis Jones could be handed new Liverpool role
“I think it is no secret that we are still looking for players to join us,” Klopp tells Liverpool World. “(Jones is) one of the options definitely.
“A proven ‘six’ is not available at the moment. We have to see that as a challenge to try to find a way to be more compact. In possession, no doubt Curtis Jones can have an impact. His development last few months really remarkable.”
Klopp admits that Jones must improve in the defensive side of the game if he is to truly thrive in a deeper role, though the 22-year-old’s outstanding performances during last season’s run-in – and during England’s victorious U21 European Championship campaign – highlights a maturity and an intelligence far beyond his years.
“At a young age, he played for Liverpool (in) some incredible game,” Klopp adds. “He was not stable a year ago, and then (he had) a bad injury.
“But the Euros gave him confidence. Having him on the pitch makes sense if no-one is there. It makes sense, definitely.”
Alongside summer signings Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, Jones impressed in his new role during Liverpool’s 4-0 thrashing of Leicester City in Singapore.
Klopp was equally effusive about the display of 18-year-old James McConnell off the bench, while the long-awaited return of fellow teenager Stefan Bajcetic will also be a major boost to Liverpool’s pre-season preparations.
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