Brundish: “Curtis Jones looks like a complete midfielder with no weakness” | OneFootball

Liverpool’s Fitness, Form, and Tactical Roles: Insights from Under Pressure Podcast

Liverpool’s tactical evolution under Arne Slot has been a team-wide effort, but individual performances have been pivotal. In the latest episode of the Anfield Index: Under Pressure podcast, contributors Dan Kennett, Simon Brundish, Dr Phil Barter, and Hamzah Khalique-Loonat dissected the roles and fitness of key players this season. From Curtis Jones’ emergence to Ibrahima Konaté’s dominance, the discussion offered a fascinating player-focused analysis of Liverpool’s campaign.

Curtis Jones: A Complete Midfielder in the Making

“Curtis Jones looks like a complete midfielder,” declared Simon Brundish, a long-time advocate for the academy graduate. “He’s good at everything. There’s no weakness.” Jones has taken a significant leap forward this season, impressing both at Liverpool and on the international stage with England.

Hamzah Khalique-Loonat highlighted the respect Jones commands among England’s coaching staff: “Lee Carsley is a big fan, and Gareth Southgate would have called him up last season if he’d had the minutes.” Discussing his energy and work rate, Brundish noted, “He’s averaging 13km per 90 minutes this season, which is phenomenal.”

Photo: IMAGO

Ibrahima Konaté’s Best Season Yet

Liverpool’s defensive solidity owes much to Ibrahima Konaté’s performances. Dr Phil Barter highlighted Konaté’s aerial dominance: “He’s having the best season of his career in duels, on par with Virgil van Dijk’s best years.” Hamzah Khalique-Loonat emphasised the vast space Konaté is covering, saying, “He’s playing amazingly well, but if he goes out, it’s a big blow.”

Simon Brundish echoed this sentiment, pointing to the importance of careful workload management: “Konaté is one of the players critical to Liverpool’s success. We have to protect him.”

Managing Fatigue and Maximising Rotation

One of the standout talking points was the staggering travel and workload of players during the international break. Simon Brundish highlighted the extreme demands placed on players like Wataru Endo: “He’s travelled 48,000 miles during this break, almost twice around the globe.” Discussing rotation strategies, he added, “We’re currently relying heavily on Gravenberch and Mac Allister, who are on for career-high minutes this season.”

Hamzah Khalique-Loonat noted the tactical necessity of this workload: “Gravenberch is already 260% above his three-year average, but his aerial win rate in midfield has been crucial.” The contributors agreed that effective rotation in January will be essential to avoid burnout.

Tactical Roles and Evolution in Key Areas

Liverpool’s tactical evolution has also changed the demands on key players. Dr Phil Barter observed how roles have been redefined: “We’re no longer producing through the nine like we did with Bobby Firmino. Instead, the wings and Zone 14 have become the key areas for creating chances.”

Simon Brundish praised Mohamed Salah’s adaptability: “He’s brilliant, and he’s just doing the same things now as he did last season, with better finishing.” Brundish also pointed out how Luis Díaz has improved his shooting locations, saying, “He’s no longer taking pot shots from wide or long range. He’s shooting within the frame of the goal.”

As Liverpool continue their pursuit of silverware, the fitness and form of key players will remain crucial. With Arne Slot’s tactical blueprint providing structure and balance, the players are rising to the challenge. As Simon Brundish aptly summarised, “This is cerebral football, and the players are fully bought into it.”