Curtis Jones capped a stunning England debut with a wonderfully taken goal against Greece on Thursday.

Jones’ senior debut for the Three Lions has been a long time coming after making nearly 150 appearances for Liverpool over the past five years, winning a host of major honours with the Reds.

The midfielder finally got his chance in England’s must-win Uefa Nations League trip to Athens.

To say he delivered would be a massive understatement.

Jones controlled the game in midfield, completing 98% of his passes (65/68) and playing three passes into the final third. Defensively, Jones kept the Greeks at bay with seven recoveries and four tackles, while winning seven of his 10 contested ground duels.

But Jones’ crowning moment came in the 83rd minute when he flicked home a stunning backheel to crown his debut with a goal and finish the job for England.

WHAT A GOAL FROM CURTIS JONES! ?

A beautiful little flick puts England three clear! ?????????????????????#ITVFootball | #NationsLeague | @LFC pic.twitter.com/lkmbDJzRqO

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) November 14, 2024

??| GOAL: WHAT A DEBUT GOAL FROM CURTIS JONES!!!

Greece 0-3 England

pic.twitter.com/VeOKLop7HT

— Transfer Sector (@TransferSector) November 14, 2024

“I tried. Happy to come out with a goal too! I can go high or low and get on the ball and play,” Jones told ITV after the match.

Curtis Jones earns rave reviews in England debut

Unsurprisingly, Jones’ performance — which earned him a 9/10 in our player ratings — has earned rave reviews from fans and pundits alike.

Prominent among those singing his praises was former England and Everton midfielder Leon Osman, who lauded Jones’ ‘wonderful evening’.

“Curtis Jones has looked very assured in the middle of the pitch,” Osman told BBC Radio 5 Live, adding:

“[He] has looked composed particularly when receiving the ball in his own area, he is unflustered, defended excellently and scored a back heel to top it all off. Wonderful evening for him.”

Jones will now have his eye on another start and big performance when England take on the Republic of Ireland on Sunday at Wembley.

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England took a huge step toward Uefa Nations League promotion with a resounding 3-0 win away in Greece on Thursday.

Avenging their shock defeat at Wembley, the Three Lions put their hosts to the sword with goals from Ollie Watkins and debutant Curtis Jones, either side of an Odisseas Vlachodimos own goal forced by a Jude Bellingham shot that hit the post.

The result takes England top of the group, level on points with Greece but now boasting a better goal difference and head-to-head record.

Any sort of win against the Republic of Ireland at Wembley on Sunday will return England to League A at the first time of asking.

For now, read on for full England player ratings from a huge win in Athens.

England player ratings vs Greece: Curtis Jones ‘outstanding’ on debut

Jordan Pickford – 9/10 – Made some vital saves to preserve the win and clean sheet, while reminding everyone how important he is for England.

Kyle Walker – 6/10 – A little negative with his play, going backwards when he’d taken up some great positions. Slotted in well enough at centre-back in the second half.

Ezri Konsa – 7/10 – A solid performance, completing 100% of his passes and winning both of his contested ground duels. Brought off at half-time, presumably with an injury.

Marc Guehi – 8/10 – Tidy with the ball and made a couple of important interceptions and tackles to keep the Greeks at bay.

Rico Lewis – 8/10 – Used the ball brilliantly and popped up in some dangerous positions. Perhaps should have got himself on the scoresheet in the second half but was denied by a good save.

Conor Gallagher – 8/10 – Got through plenty of defensive work and did his best to drive England forward once he turned the ball over.

Curtis Jones – 9/10 – Absolute class on the ball and alert to any Greek counter-attacks. Misplaced just three of 68 attempted passes. Capped off an outstanding England debut with a beautifully taken goal. ‘Outstanding’ according to former England and Aston Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie.

Noni Madueke – 8/10 – Set up Watkins’ goal with a great run and cut-back and was a menace all game, creating a match-high three chances and having five touches in the opposition box.

Jude Bellingham – 9/10 – The Greeks couldn’t handle Bellingham once he got into full flow, powering through midfield with immense force. Hit the post twice, first with a header, then with a shot from the edge of the box which hit Vlachodimos and went in. Unlucky not to be credited with a goal but did the damage.

Anthony Gordon – 6/10 – A few dangerous flashes but was more subdued than Madueke.

Ollie Watkins – 8/10 – Took his goal well and provided England with a good focal point, even if he was a little isolated at times.

Substitutes:

Lewis Hall (46′, for Konsa) – 7/10 – A solid England debut from a youngster with the potential to be his nation’s left-back for years to come.

Harry Kane (67′, for Watkins) – 7/10 – Did a lot of work off the ball, including his run to create the space for Bellingham’s shot on the second goal.

Morgan Rogers (67′, for Gordon) – 7/10 – Won’t be credited with an assist on the second goal but it was his smart pass inside to Bellingham that set England away.

Jarrod Bown (67′, for Madueke) – 7/10 – Did well in the build-up for the third goal.

Morgan Gibbs-White (79′, for Gallagher) – 7/10 – Set up Jones as England finished the job.

The post Greece 0-3 England: Player ratings as ‘outstanding’ Liverpool star enjoys perfect debut appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Lee Carsley has picked his final England squad as interim manager ahead of the Three Lions’ upcoming Nations League games against the Republic of Ireland and Greece, which includes in-form Liverpool star Curtis Jones. 

Carsley’s side will secure automatic promotion back to League A with maximum points from their final two games. A second-placed finish will mean a two-legged play-off tie against a third-ranked team from League A, with a place in the top tier at stake.

England have been fun to watch during the 50-year-old’s short reign but a new era is set to begin in 2025, with former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel set to oversee the Three Lions’ 2026 World Cup campaign.

However, England still have business to attend to in the Nations League and Carsley has picked his final squad, which includes Liverpool’s Curtis Jones, reports The Athletic.

The England boss included the Reds midfielder in his October plans, however, the 23-year-old could not participate as his partner gave birth to their first child.

Jones has been in top form for Liverpool lately, producing one goal and three assists in the Merseyside club’s last five matches – the latest being a beauty for Luis Diaz’s opening goal against Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday night.

This took the midfielder’s tally to one goal and four assists across 12 games this season, and the Reds talent will now look to replicate this on the international stage.

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Curtis Jones is in but Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers misses out again

One of the shock absentees was Aston Villa midfielder Morgan Rogers, who has been a key part of Unai Emery’s success this season. The 22-year-old has featured 14 times in all competitions for the Birmingham outfit, producing three goals and three assists.

The Englishman is having a breakthrough year at Villa Park and has been very impressive throughout the opening part of the 2024/25 campaign.

Many expected Rogers to be called up to the England squad during the October break, therefore, missing out this time is a big shock. The Villa star will not be happy about this situation, however, he is still very young and at this stage, it is more important that he impresses Tuchel, rather than Carsley.

The post England boss Lee Carsley rewards 5 G/A Liverpool star for recent form, Aston Villa man will be fuming appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has spoken about Curtis Jones’ improvement since he adjusted his use of him in the Reds’ midfield.

Jones has really grown as a player this season, having been in and out of the first-team while Jurgen Klopp was in charge, but it seems Slot has now really worked out how to get the best out of him.

The 23-year-old started out playing more like a number six, but Slot admits he’s still learning about this squad he’s inherited, and he now seems to have suggested he’s got more out of the talented young Englishman by changing his role to give him slightly more freedom.

“The expectation is that Saudi will make a BIG push” – which Liverpool player is surely heading for this shock move? Click here to find out!

See below for Slot’s comments on Jones, as quoted by journalist Ian Doyle…

Slot on Jones: I am still learning on a daily basis about every player, Curtis is one. When I first came I played him as a six. That wasn't his best game, at this moment he can play in every position as in such a good place right now. He has really made step up

— Ian Doyle (@IanDoyleSport) November 5, 2024

“I am still learning on a daily basis about every player, and Curtis is one,” Slot said.

“When I first came, I played him as a six. That wasn’t his best game, but at this moment he can play in every position as he’s in such a good place right now. He has really made the step up.”

Curtis Jones looks a man reborn at Liverpool

It’s encouraging to see a top manager like Slot admit that he can get things wrong and that he’s not too stubborn to then make the change necessary to improve things.

LFC are certainly reaping the benefits now as Jones thrives in this exciting new-look team, in which it really looks like everyone has gone up a level under their new Dutch tactician.

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Jones clearly has huge potential that wasn’t being realised until now, so Liverpool fans will be delighted with the work Slot has done.

The former Feyenoord manager might not have looked like the obvious first choice to replace Klopp in the summer, but he’s worked wonders with this team so far.

Slot’s Liverpool were in incredible form again last night as they thrashed Bayer Leverkusen 4-0 at Anfield, with Jones playing a key role in the victory.

The post Arne Slot names the Liverpool star who’s “made the step up” after tactical adjustment appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler has heaped praise onto the in-form young midfielder Curtis Jones as he enjoys a superb season under new manager Arne Slot.

Jones found himself in and out of the Liverpool team while Jurgen Klopp was in charge, but Fowler believes Slot’s style of football suits him better and we’re now finally seeing him flourish at Anfield.

Jones came through the Liverpool academy and has long looked like someone with a bright future in the game, though it’s really now that he’s showing what he can do with this more possession-based playing style.

Klopp’s approach was a bit more fast and furious, and Fowler feels that probably didn’t suit the technically gifted Jones that well, in comparison to the slightly more patient approach being used now.

Curtis Jones shining thanks to Liverpool manager change, says Reds legend

Discussing Jones’ improvement this season in his column in the Daily Mirror, Fowler also paid tribute to Steven Gerrard for spotting his potential when he was working with the club’s youth team.

“Jones scored the winning goal and earned a penalty in an all-action performance against Chelsea last weekend – and was rightly named man of the match. I think the Dutchman’s more measured approach is bringing the best out of the lad,” Fowler said.

“This isn’t by any means a criticism of Jurgen Klopp, but I’m not sure his in-your-face approach was the best possible fit for Jones. Curtis relies more on technique than high-energy pressing – and with the new manager trying to impose a more possession-based philosophy on the squad he inherited, it hasn’t surprised me one bit that he’s come to the fore.

“The comparisons to Stevie G have already started – and if Curtis can have just half of the career that Liverpool’s former captain had then he will become some player.

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“I do think Gerrard saw something of himself in Jones when he was working in the club’s academy. Even as a youngster, he didn’t suffer from a lack of belief in his own ability – and from what I understand, Stevie recognised straight away that there was a need to mould that confidence.

“I think that Gerrard was able to impress upon the midfielder that he was playing in a position where the need for discipline was just as paramount as the ability to knock a 50-yard pass. He instilled in him the Liverpool ethic that the team must always come first.

“Could Jones really have had a better mentor than the Liverpool legend he grew up wanting to be?”

The post Liverpool legend names the player who’s benefited from Slot replacing Klopp as manager appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has heaped praise onto Curtis Jones for his superb performance against Chelsea yesterday in an important 2-1 Premier League win at Anfield.

Jones has been one of Liverpool’s most improved players this season, and he popped up to score the winner against Chelsea in the second half, while Slot praised him for his all-round display in midfield.

The 23-year-old finished well when Mohamed Salah set him up for his big chance in the second half, but perhaps even more impressive was the way he helped keep Blues attacking midfield maestro Cole Palmer quiet for so much of the game.

Palmer has been sensational since joining Chelsea, but he couldn’t quite get going at Anfield yesterday, and Slot singled out Jones for nullifying that threat well.

Curtis Jones praised by Arne Slot after Liverpool beat Chelsea

Speaking after the game, as quoted by the Metro, Slot said of Jones: “He was very good. Very good individual performance. I think the whole team worked very hard.

“Curtis had a difficult job, he had to control Cole Palmer, which is not easy because this player has some quality.”

Not a lot of players have been able to handle Palmer, so it’s some achievement by Jones to do such a good job whilst also being able to contribute in attack by getting forward to score the winner.

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Jones is another success story of the Liverpool academy, with the England Under-21 international looking like he could go on to have a similar impact to Trent Alexander-Arnold, another homegrown player who’s developed into a world class talent for the club’s first-team.

Jamie Carragher praised Jones after the game, even suggesting his rise in the LFC midfield could now mean there’s no longer any need for Slot to go out and sign a big name like Martin Zubimendi in that position.

The post Arne Slot singles out Liverpool star for praise for “difficult job” nullifying key Chelsea threat appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has suggested that the superb performance of Curtis Jones against Chelsea yesterday might have convinced the club that they don’t need to go out and sign a new midfielder like Martin Zubimendi.

Jones started over Alexis Mac Allister in the Liverpool midfield, in what some might have seen as a bit of a brave call by Reds manager Arne Slot, but the 23-year-old did brilliantly as he put in a strong all-round display in midfield and ended up scoring the winning goal against the Blues.

Liverpool ended up winning 2-1 thanks to Jones’ strike in the second half, while he also had a key role in keeping Chelsea playmaker Cole Palmer quiet throughout the game.

LFC have a lot of depth in midfield, and Carragher now expects the presence of Jones means there’s no need for the Merseyside giants to go and spend big money on a new signing in that area of the pitch, naming previous target Zubimendi as someone who may no longer be seen as being as much of an urgent priority.

Curtis Jones transfer claim from Jamie Carragher

“I keep thinking in the back of my head, ‘Will Arne Slot go back in for Zubimendi in January?’, and when you see performances like that you’re thinking: ‘No’,” Carragher said, as quoted by the Metro.

“Over the last few weeks I’ve thought maybe Liverpool could still do with a midfielder but when you’ve got someone like Curtis Jones and you’ve got those three battling for those positions, that’s great quality.”

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Jones has come up through Liverpool’s academy, and though it’s taken him some time to really establish himself as a first-team regular, he’s got a decent amount of experience under his belt now, and seems to be improving all the time.

Liverpool fans will be delighted to see another homegrown talent coming through after the immense success of Trent Alexander-Arnold in the last few years.

The post “You see performances like that…” – Carragher says Liverpool star may have changed Reds’ transfer plans appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Gary Neville has barely been able to contain his delight in Curtis Jones’ performance for Liverpool against Chelsea so far. 

Making his second consecutive Premier League start after only managing three substitute appearances in the competition under Arne Slot previously, Jones has been involved in the thick of the action throughout.

It was the 23-year-old who was hacked down by Levi Colwill just before the half-hour mark, with Mohamed Salah making no mistake from the spot to put Liverpool ahead.

Jones was brought down again shortly before half-time by goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, only for VAR to rule that the Spaniard got a touch to the ball before clattering the midfielder.

Chelsea drew level just moments after half-time through Nicolas Jackson. However, it took just 76 seconds for the Reds to retake the lead, with Jones popping up at the far post to turn home an excellent Salah cross.

Curtis Jones RESPONDS immediately for Liverpool! ? pic.twitter.com/v3urTHUgNU

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 20, 2024

Jones’ first Premier League goal since New Year’s Day was beautifully timed and dispatched and well deserved for a fine performance.

Gary Neville wowed by Curtis Jones

A player who appears to be growing in stature under Slot, Jones has certainly left an impression on former Man Utd defender Neville.

“Curtis Jones has been involved in everything. Liverpool’s best player by an absolute mile,” the Sky Sports commentator said.

“He’s supposedly playing in the deeper role, but he’s got forward whenever he can.

“It’s a really cute finish.”

At the time of writing (64 minutes), Jones has completed 89% of his passes, had five touches in the opposition box and won six of his seven ground duels alongside his goal and the penalty he won.

The post “Best player by an absolute mile” – Liverpool star is making a huge impression on Neville vs Chelsea appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Jamie Carragher believes Chelsea were ‘fortunate’ not to concede a second penalty in the first half of their clash with Liverpool on Sunday.

Despite a promising start, the Blues found themselves 1-0 down thanks to a Mohamed Salah penalty, awarded as Levi Colwill hacked down Curtis Jones inside the box.

Chelsea continued to carry a threat, especially on the wings with Noni Madueke and Jadon Sancho.

However, things looked to have gone from bad to worse when referee John Brooks pointed to the spot for a second time as Jones was once again brought down, this time by Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.

Fortunately on this occasion, Chelsea were saved as VAR spotted a touch on the ball from Sanchez before he upended Jones.

The Premier League confirmed on their Match Centre X account: “The referee awarded a penalty to Liverpool for a foul by Sanchez on Jones. The VAR deemed that Sanchez won the ball and no foul was committed and recommended an on-field review. The referee overturned the original decision and play restarted with a drop ball.”

#LIVCHE – 45+2’ VAR OVERTURN

The referee awarded a penalty to Liverpool for a foul by Sanchez on Jones. The VAR deemed that Sanchez won the ball and no foul was committed and recommended an on-field review. The referee overturned the original decision and play restarted with a…

— Premier League Match Centre (@PLMatchCentre) October 20, 2024

Former Premier League referee Mike Dean added on Sky Sports: “He’s got a slight touch on the ball but he has wiped out Jones. I think he plays the ball first. It is clumsy.

“It looks untidy the way Jones has gone over but there’s going to be an inevitable coming together. It will definitely be overturned in my opinion.”

Jamie Carragher fumes as Liverpool denied second penalty

Jamie Carragher took a very different view of the decision, insisting there was enough there to warrant a penalty and branding Chelsea ‘fortunate’ to see the decision overturned.

“I don’t think the goalkeeper gets enough of the ball,” the former Liverpool defender told Sky Sports. “Getting a touch of the ball and taking the player out is not enough in the modern game. I think Chelsea were fortunate.”

The post “Chelsea were fortunate” – Jamie Carragher fumes as Liverpool denied in key moment appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Liverpool star Curtis Jones has received a surprise call up to the England squad for the Three Lions’ October matches despite the midfielder spending the majority of the 2024/25 campaign on the sidelines. 

The 23-year-old suffered a muscle injury at the beginning of the season and as a result has only started two matches for the Merseyside club, which included Liverpool’s 1-0 win over Crystal Palace last weekend.

Despite this, Lee Carsley has decided to make the surprise decision of calling up Jones for England’s upcoming Nations League clashes against Greece and Finland, reports The Daily Star.

The Three Lions boss has seen his original squad deteriorate due to injuries with Kobbie Mainoo, Ezri Konsa and Morgan Gibbs-White pulling out of international duty following last weekend’s round of Premier League matches.

Newcastle’s Tino Livramento has also been added to the squad by the England interim head coach and it remains to be seen if they can earn their first senior England caps.

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Is the call up of Liverpool’s Curtis Jones a surprise?

Given the amount of action Jones has had this season, his England call up is a surprise; however, long term, Carsley will be looking to see if the 23-year-old can shine for the senior team as he did under the interim Three Lions boss at U21 level.

The midfielder made 20 appearances for England’s U21s, producing five goals and four assists. The Liverpool star was also a key part of Carsley’s squad that won the 2023 U21s European Championship, a tournament where Jones scored the winner in the final against Spain.

This is a huge opportunity for the Liverpool star and even if he doesn’t play a minute, being around the England camp will do him the world of good in the future.

The post Surprise England call up handed to Liverpool star who Lee Carsley knows well appeared first on CaughtOffside.