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Arne Slot should make Dominik Szoboszlai change and unleash 'special' Liverpool ace instead

Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister during a Liverpool training session.
-Credit: (Image: Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)


There is an argument that Liverpool's midfield trio so far this season has been the best in that position in the Premier League. It is one that Reds legend Mark Lawrenson, who spoke to Liverpool.com last week, has made eloquently.

"Ryan Gravenberch looks a really classy player at the moment and he complements Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai really well," Lawrenson said. "All three midfielders have started the campaign very promisingly, which is great to see — I don’t think there’s a better midfield trio in the league at the moment."

There is still plenty of room for improvement, though, both individually and collectively. Gravenberch is still young enough to have another level to hit and he still needs to grow the sample size on his performances, as impressive as they have been.

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Mac Allister grew into the game with Wolves but wasn't at his peak, while Szoboszlai missed a huge chance to score and was otherwise very quiet. The Hungarian has already been told by Arne Slot that he needs to provide more goals and assists in that number 10 role.

And even though Liverpool is perhaps one player short in terms of quality options in the middle part of the pitch, even with Harvey Elliott still to return from injury, the Reds do have another option knocking on the door for minutes. Curtis Jones, now fit again after a minor injury, is available and getting back into rhythm.

Jones was very good in the second half against West Ham United in the Carabao Cup, deployed in the more advanced role and given the license to attack. He picked up an assist and looked as dangerous as he has since he starred against Newcastle United back in January, after which Jurgen Klopp praised the "special" talent.

Cody Gakpo celebrates scoring his second Liverpool goal vs West Ham with Curtis Jones.
Cody Gakpo celebrates scoring his second Liverpool goal vs West Ham with Curtis Jones. -Credit:Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images

"We all know how good a player Curtis is," Klopp said in his post-match press conference then. "He is technically incredibly skilled, but he finds more and more direction in his dribbling, he gets better out of situations and his pressing and counter-pressing is meanwhile... he sets the level actually, how it should look."

With Jones always having been a player who performs best when he is given a run in the team, it might be time to hand him that opportunity. Szoboszlai's showings lately have been mixed and Jones has shown he can play that role.

Mac Allister and Gravenberch, meanwhile, should be carefully managed to avoid burnout. The former is likely to play a big role for Argentina in the international break with matches against Venezuela and Bolivia, while the latter has nearly matched the number of starts he made in the whole of last season already.

Like those who have been starting in front of him, Jones has the perfect skill set to play for Slot in the center of the pitch. As the Reds prepare to enter a period where the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City will need to be taken care of, getting the Scouser back to his peak by handing a regular spot in the side is a must.

Jones rotating into the team in each of the three positions, giving Szoboszlai, Mac Allister and Gravenberch a rest during a crucial period, should cause no concern. The Liverpool number 17 has already proven his quality and is just getting back into his groove.