Curtis Jones: Talent’s Clear, Decisions Must Improve

Curtis Jones has plenty to like: tidy on the ball, hard to press, and capable of a telling action. But the bits that separate good from trusted are still his biggest hurdle.

It’s funny how certain arguments get wheeled out for one player and not another. The idea that “you can say that about anyone” might be true in the abstract, but it doesn’t really settle the Curtis Jones conversation either way. He’s not some passenger you’re trying to talk yourself into. He’s a proper footballer.

For me, the baseline with Jones is clear: technically he belongs at this level. He can receive under pressure, protect the ball, and roll away from contact in tight areas. He’s comfortable on the half-turn, he keeps it moving when it’s on, and he’s got a strike in him too. Not every midfielder in the squad has that mix of control and confidence, especially when the game gets frantic.

What Jones gives you in the middle

When Liverpool are at their best, the midfield needs players who can play in traffic. It’s not always about Hollywood passes. Sometimes it’s about taking the ball when the press is on, buying your side a second, and keeping the tempo under control. Jones can do that.

He also offers that little bit of disguise. A clipped ball around the corner, a carry into space, a quick set that opens a lane. You can see why coaches like him: he’s not scared of the ball, and he doesn’t hide when the game is messy.

The flip side: risk in the wrong areas

The frustration is that the same confidence can tip into stubbornness. There are moments where he tries to solve a problem with another touch, then another, when the simple option is staring him in the face. That’s when a decent performance can suddenly feel like a heart attack.

The examples are the ones supporters remember because they’re so avoidable. Against Spurs, that delay inviting Richarlison in is exactly the type of situation that swings a match on a single mistake. And the Brighton moment, turning an opponent again and again in your own box, is basically begging for trouble. If it ends in a goal, everyone’s talking about it for weeks.

Trust is built on decisions

Truth is, talent only gets you so far in this side. Liverpool’s best midfields have always had players who know when to take risks and when to just get it gone. Decision-making is a skill, same as first touch. And it’s the skill that earns you the manager’s trust, especially in big moments.

If Jones cleans that up, he’s more than just “a good option”. He becomes a weekly pick. If he doesn’t, there’ll always be someone a bit less flashy who gets the nod because they don’t gift the opposition a chance. That’s the margin he’s playing on.

Written by OliRed: 21 December 2025