With Trent Alexander-Arnold injured, Liverpool’s focal England presence has been absent during the latest interminable international pause. However, Thomas Tuchel’s squad hasn’t been devoid of Merseyside representation.
Early days yet, but Curtis Jones has shown the first signs of being a mainstay through this new Three Lions era, starting Thursday evening’s win over Albania and featuring late on against Latvia on Monday.
He’s everything Slot and Tuchel wants in a midfielder, endowed with technical quality and an attacking outlook.
FBref’s data from the past year even suggests he bears a likeness to Manchester City’s Phil Foden, who may not be having the best of seasons but is certainly one of the most talented players this nation has produced in a generation.
Liverpool's answer to Foden
Jones, 23, will take delight in having chalked up 140 senior appearances for Liverpool already, directly involved in 39 goals and the lifter of five major honours – with a sixth said to be on the way.
Technically gifted, fit as a fiddle and wearing the tenacity of one playing for their club, Jones has gone from strength to strength since the managerial baton was passed, making his England debut and scoring back in November.
He’s now a fully-fledged member of the Three Lions set-up, given the nod by Tuchel this month and starting during last week’s 2-0 victory over Albania.
Given that Jones is somewhat similar to his countryman on the tactical front while also being a 24-year-old midfielder looking to make their name in the German’s new set-up, you might say that Jones is Liverpool’s own version.
Foden has received a share of flak in recent days after another uninspiring performance for his nation. The 23/24 Premier League Player of the Season is one of the most gifted footballers in the business, but he can’t seem to bring it together in white.
However, Lee Carsley and now Tuchel’s desire to unleash Jones in starting line-ups makes an interesting comment on the whole ordeal. As per FBref, Jones’ technical skill and eye for a goal make him one of Foden’s most tactically similar midfielders, corroborating the decision to feature him prominently for England.
Foden might have his struggles on the international stage, but he’s still been tipped to become “the best English player in history” by his Manchester City teammates Rodri and Erling Haaland, highlighting his abundant talent.
This all goes to show that Slot has quite the useful player on his hands in Jones, and that Liverpool will continue to benefit from his skill for many years.
However, Jones does play deeper than he was once touted – and that’s just fine – but with such glaring issues up top, such a player, one with a forward focus, would be relished given Liverpool’s current issues.
Well, Liverpool had such a player, but Klopp sold him a few years ago. Like Jones, this ace has a tactical likeness to Foden, but his more natural attacking game suggests he could have been the perfect tonic for the Anfield side’s problems in recent weeks.
The Former Liverpool star who is now similar to Foden
Dominik Szoboszlai is a terrific attacking midfielder and Harvey Elliott has that natural spark in the final third too, but Liverpool could have done with another part this term. Recent losses are cases in point.
The man in question, you might be surprised to read, is none other than Takumi Minamino – here’s why.
Now plying his trade at AS Monaco, Minamino joined Liverpool from RB Salzburg for a smart £7m fee in January 2020 and he went on to lift a number of trophies and play 55 times for Jurgen Klopp’s side, scoring 14 goals.
Only ever a bit-part player, Minamino, now 28, was sold to the Ligue 1 club for about £15m in June 2022 as Klopp repackaged his frontline.
Now, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Minamino was a good player but hardly on Foden’s level, hardly hitting the same heights as the illustrious Englishman.
But Minamino can be cut from the same tactical cloth, a lesser version. The Japan international’s role as an attacking midfielder is one reason behind the semblance, with both capable across the frontline and indeed being utilised as such at Monaco.
Attacking midfield
19
4
4
Right winger
6
1
1
Left winger
4
1
0
Centre-forward
2
1
0
But, moreover, it’s the way he plays the game that has drawn FBref to liken the two players. Minamino ranks among the top 2% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 17% for assists, the top 17% for progressive carries and the top 1% for touches in the attacking penalty area per 90.
This is a marker of his prolific nature. Indeed, Minamino didn’t earn that many chances to impress at Anfield but he earned his keep. In 2021/22, for example, the nimble winger scored three times in the top flight despite only starting once. He also bagged seven goals across FA Cup and Carabao Cup campaigns – Liverpool went on to win both titles.
Turning back toward Liverpool’s present concerns: Minamino’s positional flexibility suggests he could have been an underrated part of the Slot machine, filling in across attacking midfield and wide positions with a potent style not dissimilar to Foden’s.
Most of Liverpool’s frontline stands at risk of exclusion this summer; Mohamed Salah is one of the greatest goalscorers in the club’s rich history but he’s overloaded with responsibility.
Mohamed Salah
17 (17)
12
5
Cody Gakpo
13 (9)
5
1
Luis Diaz
18 (15)
1
2
Diogo Jota
14 (9)
2
1
Darwin Nunez
16 (4)
3
4
Federico Chiesa
5 (2)
2
1
Such a dynamic attacking option could have been welcome to be sure. Journalist Josh Bunting once commented that Minamino was “undervalued” during his time on Merseyside, and maybe that’s the case.
He’s enjoying life in France and certainly has enough about him to have given Liverpool a bit more oomph in the final third this season. Perhaps it could have made all the difference in sustaining an unflagging multi-title charge.
Alas, Slot will have to settle for ‘just’ the Premier League title.
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