It's not too late: Liverpool must reverse course and keep star player | OneFootball

Liverpool, it's not too late. You must reverse course and keep Sunday's star player.

Curtis Jones was the best player on the pitch for the Merseyside derby. The only Scouser in the Liverpool team played a strange right-back/centre-midfield hybrid role but did it expertly.

Jones had 36 more touches than any other player on the pitch and completed an incredible 94 per cent of his passes. That was, quite amazingly, the highest success rate and the most attempted passes.

He won the majority of his duels, completed 10 passes into the final third and was a massive contribution towards the winning goal. Liverpool would not have won this one without Jones.

Which is why it's insane that he's set to leave the club. There is absolutely no talk around a new contract for the player, who enters the final year of his deal this summer.

In fact, Jones nearly left last January and Inter were confident of getting him. Really, only Liverpool's injury crisis stopped a deal from getting done.

There is a sense that they'll move on their homegrown star this summer, probably on the relative cheap. Anfield Watch understands that Manchester City are among those hoping to take advantage of it all.

It's a ridiculous situation - Liverpool's most controlling player, a homegrown one, and someone who wants to play for the Reds.

But it's far from too late. The club have got to figure out what they've got here and get a deal done. Jones should not leave.

Curtis Jones: Situation Summary

Season Stats and Transfer Status

As of 19 April 2026, Curtis Jones has made 44 appearances across all competitions, providing two goals and two assists. Despite maintaining an elite 92% pass completion rate, the 25-year-old has struggled for consistent game time, managing only 12 Premier League starts under Arne Slot. With his contract set to enter its final year and negotiations reportedly stalled, Jones is widely expected to leave his boyhood club this summer. Aston Villa have emerged as frontrunners, preparing a "concrete move" to keep him in the Premier League, while Inter Milan and Tottenham also remain interested.

Injury and Team Context

Jones recently returned to action for the Merseyside derby on 19 April, having recovered from a groin strain that kept him out of the Champions League quarter-final second leg against PSG. His potential departure is part of a broader midfield overhaul planned by Sporting Director Richard Hughes, aimed at funding moves for targets like Eduardo Camavinga. With club icons Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson also confirmed to leave, Jones’s exit would mark a significant shift in Liverpool’s homegrown core.