Arne Slot has discussed the recent form of Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones ahead of the clash against Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.
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Arne Slot has challenged Curtis Jones to continue his performance levels on a consistent basis for Liverpool.
The midfielder has started the Reds’ past three games and caught the eye. He was excellent in the 1-0 victory over Inter Milan in the Champions League at the San Siro and backed that up with a superb display in the 2-0 win against Brighton.
Jones brought up a double-century of appearances for Liverpool last weekend. However, he has so far struggled to be a first-team regular for his boyhood club despite making a senior breakthrough in 2019.
Slot believes that Jones has been showing confidence and work-rate in abundance and hinted that he will again be in the starting line-up for today’s trip to Tottenham Hotspur. And the Liverpool boss insists that the 24-year-old has to keep on his current trajectory.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Slot said: “He's done really good in the last three games and I think that's not the first time. But maybe since I'm here it's the first time that it's three times in a row that he brings in very, very good performances. He's had in the past also very good performances and a game later I didn't like the performance as much as I did now recently in his last three games.
“So, I think it's again a challenge for him to go to the fourth, to go to the fifth, to go to the sixth game. But I think I'm not the only one who liked the way he played – with so much confidence, with so much work-rate, giving it all in every single moment for the team and really, really comfortable on the ball as well. His last three performances are the base where we expect him to go on, but that starts tomorrow against a challenging opponent like Spurs.”
Meanwhile, Slot confirmed that Dominik Szoboszlai is likely to start against Spurs - but only if he gives the green light that he is fit. The Hungary international had to be taken off in the closing stages against Brighton because of an ankle issue.
Szoboszlai was due to train yesterday. Slot said: "If the player feels comfortable to play and he did all the things he had to do, then he will start. If he can fulfil the whole session or he fulfils it but he doesn't feel comfortable himself, we will have a discussion."