Liverpool Star Faces Scrutiny After Brighton Defeat
Following Saturday’s 2-1 loss at Brighton, Liverpool fans have zeroed in on one player’s unusual behaviour, with some even suggesting he should be sold this summer.
Questions continue to swirl around the Arne Slot regime, as the Premier League champions were outpaced and outmuscled, struggling to maintain a top-five position.
Danny Welbeck netted twice around Milos Kerkez’s equaliser at the Amex Stadium, leaving Liverpool with just one point from their last three league matches. That solitary point came after they surrendered a 1-0 home lead to Tottenham in the final minutes. Slot now faces mounting pressure in the dugout, with 21 potential replacements already being touted.
While many feel the Dutch manager is failing to get the best out of some of his key players—his slow, lacklustre style frustrating the Anfield faithful—there’s a sense he isn’t solely to blame for Liverpool’s stuttering title defence. After Hugo Ekitike went down with injury, Slot looked to one player to step up—but the midfielder’s performance left the manager visibly perplexed.
Curtis Jones’ Future Under the Microscope
Curtis Jones seems to face scrutiny around this time every season, but this year the spotlight is particularly sharp following links to Inter Milan in January. At the time, it seemed unlikely Liverpool would be forced into a decision, with Jones enjoying a strong spell during Alexis Mac Allister’s absence and appearing capable of cementing a regular spot in the starting XI.
Fast-forward a few months, however, and the 25-year-old’s inconsistencies are back in focus. Against Brighton, he arguably produced his poorest performance yet—outran by a 40-year-old James Milner and looking off the pace. His lack of urgency left Liverpool’s midfield too passive to impose themselves.
Although his passing was neat and he competed in duels, his overall influence was minimal. Compared to earlier in the season, this was a display that undermined much of his prior good work, with lapses in intensity continuing to hinder his development.
Fans Slam ‘Strange Behaviour’
Liverpool supporters highlighted an incident in the lead-up to Jones’ eighth-minute substitution that they feel reflects his ongoing struggles this year. As Ekitike limped off, Jones was caught joking with substitute goalkeeper Freddie Woodman on TNT Sports instead of preparing to enter the game promptly.
Many fans interpreted the moment as a sign of attitude issues. One user wrote:
“Curtis Jones’ performance yesterday was a complete joke. Messing about with Woodman on the bench pre-sub, then comes on and doesn’t give a toss. Outrun and outfought by 40-year-old Milner—says it all. Wants £200k a week? Seriously? Sell him this summer.”
Another added:
“He really does things to irritate Slot, and you wonder why he gets dropped. Ekitike is walking off injured, and Jones should have been ready. Instead, he’s messing about with Woodman. You can almost guess what’s going through Arne’s mind.”
Some supporters also questioned the manager’s decision:
“If that’s the case, why bring him on? Be ruthless and bring on someone else to send a message
