LIVERPOOL CONFIDENTIAL: Jones’ type places him in England operating

Curtis Jones is firmly within the operating for Gareth Southgate’s subsequent senior England squad – although there’s a feeling a dropout elsewhere may be wanted for the Liverpool midfielder to power his means in. 

Southgate has made a reputation for being loyal to those that have served him effectively at earlier tournaments, with the likes of Kalvin Phillips, who has not began a Premier League sport this season, and Jordan Henderson, whose points are well-documented, regulars within the squad. 

Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice and Trent Alexander-Arnold – used as a midfielder by England – are the one certainties in central areas if match going into this summer time’s Euros, which realistically leaves three slots within the squad. 

The likes of Conor Gallagher, James Maddison and James Ward-Prowse may also be thought-about for these roles, whereas Chelsea’s Cole Palmer may be used as a No 10 within the Euros squad. 

But it’s understood Jones is on the watchlist for Southgate and assistant Steve Holland, after rave opinions from England Under 21s boss Lee Carsley following Jones’s star position within the Young Lions European Championship triumph final summer time. 

Palmer, Anthony Gordon of Newcastle and Chelsea’s Levi Colwill have all stepped as much as the senior squad since that Under 21 success and Jones is subsequent on the radar to take action after enjoying an integral position in Premier League leaders Liverpool’s battle on 4 fronts this season. 

He has confirmed himself as a flexible midfielder that may play in an aggressively attacking model but in addition covers plenty of floor, hardly ever loses possession and performs a key half in Jurgen Klopp’s high-tempo urgent sport. 

CELTIC BECK TO SQUARE ONE 

Celtic’s want to signal Owen Beck this month has been ruined by purple tape. 

The Welsh left again made his Premier League debut for Liverpool at Bournemouth and, as he has already performed for Dundee this season, he’s now ineligible to function for the Scottish champions. 

That’s due to a FIFA ruling that prohibits footballers from enjoying for greater than two golf equipment in a single season, with Beck now that includes for each Dundee and Liverpool. The Parkhead membership had been very eager on signing the Welshman this month however these hopes will now be dashed. 

FIFA’s pointers are nicknamed ‘FIFA Two’ and the case legislation typically refers again to Irish internationals Colin Healy and Gareth Farrelly, who had been prohibited from enjoying for Cork City in 2007. It led to a row with the European Union over residents’ proper to work. 

Beck was recalled this month after incomes rave opinions in Scotland, with Dundee unhappy to lose him. He may return there however the reality Dundee have signed a substitute left again, Owen Dodgson from Burnley, makes this look unlikely. 

The nice nephew of Ian Rush is now fourth within the pecking order for left backs at Liverpool, with Andy Robertson, Kostas Tsimikas and Joe Gomez forward of him. Robertson and Tsimikas are each going effectively of their restoration from damage and on monitor to fulfill their goal return dates. 

HENDERSON’S REGRET 

By Matt Hughes

Jordan Henderson’s return to Europe with Ajax has resulted in emotions of remorse and wistfulness at Liverpool, the place many really feel their 2020 Premier League-winning captain might be main the membership’s try and regain the title this season. 

Manager Jurgen Klopp had no big want to let Henderson go final summer time regardless of orchestrating an overhaul of Liverpool’s midfield, however was unable to vow the 33-year-old a pivotal position within the XI, which led to his ill-fated transfer to Al Ettifaq. 

New midfield signings Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Wataru Endo have all settled in effectively at Liverpool this season with Klopp’s aspect transferring 5 factors clear on the prime of the desk following yesterday’s 4-0 win at Bournemouth. 

But Liverpool Confidential has been informed that senior figures at Anfield stay satisfied that Henderson would have had a big half to play had he stayed on the membership. The Englishman may make his Ajax debut on Saturday at Heracles. 

HOW REDS SPENT ‘WINTER BREAK’ 

Jurgen Klopp and right-hand man Pep Lijnders spent the ‘winter break’ – all six days of it – enjoying padel, arguably the pair’s favorite pastime, in Dubai. 

They additionally ended up on the very same flight again as a number of Liverpool stars who additionally jetted out to the Middle East for a spot of R&R! The German talked about the way it took Liverpool the primary half of the win at Bournemouth to regain their rhythm however the day without work can have solely helped the membership and any title cost. 

It gave the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dominik Szoboszlai per week to let their minor accidents heal. 

That pair, plus Curtis Jones who left the sphere showing to have some minor discomfort in his left hamstring at Bournemouth, will stay within the ‘doubt’ class for Wednesday’s journey to Fulham, however all must be hoping to return for the subsequent league match towards Chelsea on January 31. 

Liverpool do, after all, have an FA Cup sport towards Norwich on Sunday – and it is going to be fascinating to see what crew Klopp fields. The likes of Bobby Clark, Kaide Gordon and James McConnell would possibly fancy themselves for minutes – off the bench on the very least. 

While a lot of the Reds stars had been jet-setting all over the world, breakout star Conor Bradley spent his day without work returning to his roots. He returned to Northern Ireland to observe previous crew St Patrick’s lose 4-3 to Newtownstewart United. 

KIRKBY KIDS 

A memorable week for the academy. We would possibly as effectively begin copying and pasting that every time this column convenes on a Monday however the 7-1 thrashing of Arsenal, probably the greatest youth groups round, on Saturday was an enormous assertion victory within the FA Youth Cup. 

Lewis Koumas scored a hat-trick, whereas Trent Kone-Doherty and Jayden Danns additionally scored braces for Marc Bridge-Wilkinson’s males, who will now host Swansea or Fulham within the fifth spherical – these two groups play on Wednesday evening and the tie is more likely to be on February 10. 

Koumas, after all, is son of former Wales worldwide Jason and the Chester-born striker has been extremely rated since his early days in soccer, with Liverpool poaching him from Tranmere’s academy, a lot to the annoyance of Rovers. 

There are lots extra which can be worthy of credit score. Aside from the forwards, Amara Nallo appears to be like a category act, whereas fellow full again Josh Davidson is regularly spectacular. 

If you will have a spare day, get all the way down to Kirkby to observe the subsequent technology. 

WOMEN’S WATCH   

It was a much less pleasing weekend for the ladies’s crew, although. Matt Beard’s aspect suffered their third lack of the season on Sunday, by the hands of Manchester City, who thrashed the Reds 5-1 in a poor efficiency. 

‘We were the architects of our own downfall today,’ stated the boss. 

‘We were in front. The second and fourth goals shouldn’t occur. It’s simply irritating, as a result of we’ve set ourselves a excessive commonplace this yr. 

‘We said it after last week against Bristol City, we didn’t carry out to one of the best of our means and we stated if we carry out like that and make errors like we did, you get punished towards some of these groups. It’s a irritating afternoon.’ 

Captain Taylor Hinds scored a beautiful chip to place the Reds forward however Gemma Bonner scored within the flawed purpose and a mistake from goalkeeper Teegan Micah gifted City a second by way of prolific striker Khadija Shaw. 

‘Bunny’ scored two extra for a hat-trick earlier than Chloe Kelly added a fifth.