Curtis Jones and £150,000-a-week star – Three Liverpool players with point to prove
Liverpool have let a lot of players leave in a hectic summer transfer window, and more could be on the chopping block.
Arne Slot won the Premier League in his first season, but is now rebuilding the squad which achieved glory as he aims to build a long-term dynasty at Anfield.
Liverpool have spent heavily on Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike, and they could also be joined by Alexander Isak.
Darwin Nunez is set to follow Luis Diaz out the door, and several players will be wary of their futures as a result of this ruthless squad building, and three will have points to prove this season.
Curtis Jones will aim to prove worth
Academy product Curtis Jones is a popular figure at Anfield, but he faces a big task ahead with a lot of competition in midfield.
Jones has proven himself to be a useful player, but with Wirtz coming in, he may be relegated to a bench role, and will need to fight his way back into the team.
The 24-year-old made 46 appearances across last season, but just 19 starts in the Premier League, and if this number does not increase, he could even be a candidate for a big-money sale as a player capable of starting regularly for a top side.
This means that Jones will be playing with a point to prove. Whenever he gets an opportunity in the upcoming season, he needs to take it, and try and claim a starting spot in the team.
Cody Gakpo needs to claim starting place
With Liverpool signing Ekitike and possibly Isak, the possibility of both playing upfront, or one out wide, has been mooted.
Diaz’s departure means that Cody Gakpo could have an opportunity to stake a claim for a starting spot on the left wing, but he could find himself usurped by one of the new signings.
Bradley Barcola has also been linked, but if Gakpo can start the season well, and deiiver on that side, he could convince Slot that he has a long-term future in the position.
| Cody Gakpo stats | 2024/25 Premier League |
| Appearances | 35 |
| Goals | 10 |
| Assists | 5 |
Dominik Szoboszlai needs to show he’s still vital
Dominik Szoboszlai, like Jones, could fall out of the starting XI following the arrival of Wirtz, and he will have a battle to retain his place.
If Slot uses a 4-2-3-1 formation, Wirtz will play as the number 10, with Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch likely to be behind him.
This would mean Szoboszlai drops to the bench in some games, but he will still have his uses in bigger games, with his work-rate off the ball one of his most vital assets.
Whenever he does play, the £150k-a-week star will have to take his chances to try and usurp one of the main three in the midfield pecking order.
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