Liverpool head to Manchester United tomorrow for the second time in three weeks.
The Reds will need no reminders of their last visit to Old Trafford. Having dominated their FA Cup quarter-final, Liverpool threw away a lead in extra-time and crashed out to a final-second winner.
The pain of that defeat will hopefully still be fresh in their minds as they take on United tomorrow. If Liverpool get the chance to kill the game, they know they have to take it.
If they don’t then the Reds could lose the initiative of the Premier League title race. With Manchester City winning earlier on Saturday and Arsenal on course to do the same, Liverpool have their backs to the wall again. Only a win will do.
And with that in mind, Jurgen Klopp has some big decisions to make with his line-up. As players return from injury, Klopp finally has options to pick from. One of those coming back to fitness stands out more than any as a certain starter on Sunday.
Jurgen Klopp has to start Curtis Jones tomorrow
It was absolutely brilliant to see Curtis Jones back in action for Liverpool on Thursday. It’s no coincidence that the Reds immediately looked better with him on the pitch.
Prior to Jones’ introduction on 73 minutes, Liverpool had been struggling to create much at all.
But within a couple of minutes, the 23-year-old was making an impact in his own subtle way. Coming forward with the ball down the Reds’ left, Jones laid a perfectly weighted ball into Andy Robertson. Robertson’s cross eventually made its way out to Alexis Mac Allister who did the rest.
Although Jones was by no means the main protagonist of the goal, he was still at the heart of it. His ability to hold onto the ball and release at just the right moment could be crucial against United.
Obviously, Liverpool have done pretty well in the England U21 international’s absence. Their midfield has functioned nicely, with Mac Allister, Wataru Endo and Dominik Szoboszlai working well together.
But that midfield couldn’t get the job done at Old Trafford three weeks ago. Jones coming into the fold may add that extra dimension Liverpool might need to find.
Will Curtis Jones start vs Man United
As well as Mac Allister, Endo and Szoboszlai, Klopp also has the option of picking Ryan Gravenberch for back-to-back games. But given the 21-year-old’s disappointing showing against Sheffield United, we don’t think that will happen.
Harvey Elliott is also in contention, although Gravenberch being selected ahead of him on Thursday doesn’t bode too well for his chances.
So, although he’s only just back from injury, we’d say that there’s a good chance of Jones coming back in to face United. Klopp said prior to the midweek game that the academy graduate had looked ‘outstanding’ in training. He seems to be ready.
A lot may of course depend on the health of Endo, who sat out of Thursday’s win. If the Japanese recovers in time, you can see Klopp putting him in alongside Mac Allister and Szoboszlai. But if he wants to set Liverpool off on the right foot, Jurgen will get Jones straight back in the XI.