Curtis Jones has been tipped to leave Liverpool at the end of the season due to a “dispute” with manager Arne Slot.
Jones, whose contract at Anfield expires next summer, has not started the last five games for the Reds.
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At the beginning of January, the midfielder sat on the bench for the entire game against Arsenal at the Emirates.
He previously started Liverpool’s last six Premier League games, in which they won three and drew three.
Jones played the full 90 minutes in four of those six games, but since then he has only started twice and fallen out of favor.
He was named by Slot in the lineup against Barnsley in the FA Cup and against Burnley at Anfield in the league.
The England international has not been in the Reds’ starting line-up for five games in a row since then, including the home defeat against Man City.
And that has left former Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant shocked at his lack of game time amid the club’s recent woes.
Asked if he was surprised that Jones wasn’t featured on the latest episode of The Pitch Prospect’s Inside Liverpool podcast, Pennant replied: “Yes, but I can understand that.” [Dominik] Szoboszlai, [Ryan] Gravenberch and [Alexis] Mac Allister, if he’s Mac Allister.
“You would probably say those are your top three in midfield.”
“But he can slow us down and sometimes dictate the tempo, go forward and run back… he’s good on the ball.”
“So he hasn’t started in the last four or five games, so yeah, there’s a bit of a question mark.”
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Tensions leading to exit?
Jones has played for Liverpool since the age of nine, rising through the youth ranks and becoming a star over the course of 16 years.
However, following his links to Inter Milan and Tottenham in January, Pennant believes his time at his boyhood club may be up.
He theorized: “For me, with the interest from Tottenham, his contract and Inter Milan, the commitment to him and Slot…
“I think there was a little argument and there was no disagreement.”
Inside Liverpool presenter Sam Ellard and the panel then discussed the possible exit of the Merseyside-born 25-year-old.
Jones is the only Scouser in the Reds’ current squad following the departure of Trent Alexander-Arnold last summer.
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“It would be a travesty to see Jones go, not only because of his football ability but also because he is a great player on the team,” Ellard said.
Former professional boxer and huge Liverpool fan Paul Smith then added: “For me personally it’s important to always have a local Scouse lad in the team when we can.”
“But it doesn’t always work out that way, does it?”
What did Slot say to Jones?
On Jones’ limited starts and appearances away from Liverpool, Slot said earlier this month: “I think what you’ve seen, he’s played a lot of minutes and he’s unlucky that midfield is the only line where we haven’t had any injuries.”
“But we kept him because we have players, but we need players in those positions. And as soon as you start needing midfielders in different positions, the line gets smaller and smaller.”
“We kept him, his situation hasn’t changed for us, he’s one of 16 available outfield players we have with young players.” [Trey] Nyoni and [Rio] Ngumoha, so it would be strange if we let someone go.
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