Journalist: ‘Underrated’ Liverpool star is now a guaranteed starter

Curtis Jones emerging as Liverpool’s constant amid uneven campaign

Liverpool’s season has rarely followed a straight line, and sitting seventh in the Premier League tells its own story about inconsistency and missed opportunities. Yet even within that turbulence, individual performance can still cut through. Curtis Jones has done exactly that, offering control, calm and confidence in midfield under Arne Slot, who famously lifted the Premier League title in his debut season before this more uneven campaign unfolded.

Insight from David Lynch, speaking to Dave Davis for Anfield Index, captures why Jones has become such a reliable reference point. Lynch’s observations are not framed in hype but in technical detail, the kind that matters when assessing midfielders operating under pressure.

Jones has moved beyond being a promising academy graduate and into something more authoritative. His football now carries assurance, purpose and a physical maturity that allows him to dictate space rather than merely survive in it.

Technical security defining Jones’ influence

Lynch distilled Jones’ core value into a simple but telling line, “He never gives the ball away and always wins it back straight away.” In a Liverpool side often exposed in transition this season, that reliability has been priceless. Ball security is not glamorous, but it is foundational, especially for a team trying to control games without dominating them.

Jones’ close control and awareness allow Liverpool to breathe during difficult spells. He receives the ball under pressure and keeps it moving without panic. That skill set has become more prominent as Liverpool’s overall rhythm has faltered, highlighting just how much trust Slot places in him.

Confidence growing in defensive moments

Perhaps the most striking evolution has come in Jones’ defensive confidence. Lynch highlighted this shift clearly, “You’re starting to see that confidence, and almost arrogance, when he is fending players off in his own box. He’s so, so good to watch.” That willingness to protect the ball in high risk areas speaks volumes about his self belief and his manager’s faith.

Midfielders often earn their reputation through passing range or goals, but Jones has added another layer, defensive resilience combined with composure. It has turned him into a genuine press resistant option, something Liverpool have lacked at times this season.

Photo: IMAGO

Reputation catching up with reality

There is also a sense that Jones is finally receiving recognition that perhaps should have arrived earlier. Lynch addressed this directly, “I think he has been underrated in the past and he’s only 24, by the way. It’s something that people seem to forget about him.” At 24, Jones is entering the phase where potential must convert into consistency, and this season suggests that transition is well underway.

That context matters. Liverpool supporters have seen enough flashes over the years to expect quality, but now the performances are arriving weekly, not sporadically.

Guaranteed starter under Slot

Lynch’s conclusion feels decisive, “He’s coming into his peak years now and if he can keep performing at this level then he is a guaranteed starter for Liverpool.” In a squad searching for stability, that statement carries weight.

Jones has become a reference point for what Slot wants from his midfield, technical security, physical strength and emotional control. Even as Liverpool grapple with their league position, his trajectory points firmly upward.