Curtis Jones passed his right back audition with flying colours as Liverpool start planning for life without Trent Alexander-Arnold, writes LEWIS STEELE

A Scouser astatine close back. 'The king is dead, agelong unrecorded the king' and each that.

With Trent Alexander-Arnold absent done wounded and with his aboriginal uncertain to accidental the least, it was near to the different section lad successful the squad to measurement up and capable his shoes: Curtis Jones.

The England planetary started a league crippled astatine afloat backmost for the archetypal clip successful his elder vocation and offered a glimpse, perhaps, into the aboriginal successful a satellite without Alexander-Arnold, should the afloat backmost depart to Real Madrid arsenic galore expect.

Mail Sport understands that thing is signed successful presumption of a determination to the Spanish superior and reports past week suggesting it was a 'done deal' were somewhat exaggerated, adjacent though the expected result is for Alexander-Arnold to so leap ship.

But careless of immoderate of that, Liverpool request to commencement formulating their plans — successful pencil astatine slightest — for if their vice-captain leaves. And present was a accidental for Jones to amusement Arne Slot what helium tin bash there.

He passed that audition with flying colours. He completed 68 of 73 passes, won 3 of 5 duels and won possession six times.

But speech from the earthy numbers, helium offered the benignant of creativity that Liverpool lacked successful the Carabao Cup final. Jarell Quansah started that lucifer and it felt similar Alexander-Arnold's unorthodox passing was sorely missed.

Jones, 24, does not person the keys to unlock defences connected his own, mind, but this was a good show that vindicates thing Slot has been reasoning astir for respective months – and thing Liverpool person been moving connected since they returned to grooming connected Saturday.

He captained the broadside astatine close backmost successful a Carabao Cup lucifer successful September 2023 but this was the archetypal 'big' crippled helium has played there. He took to it similar a duck to water.

'Curtis was excellent,' said Andy Robertson. 'He played a truly bully game, helium is specified an intelligent footballer. We were joking yesterday — helium has played near wing, arsenic a No 10, a striker, a No 6, a No 8 and a close back.

'It shows however intelligent helium is, helium took the crippled successful his stride. So comfy connected the shot and defended good too.'

It should besides beryllium mentioned that Jones often plays with his bosom connected his sleeve — possibly to his detriment successful the reverse fixture astatine Goodison Park erstwhile helium was sent disconnected — and the section lad is simply a fans' favourite.

Slot added: 'It is not thing that came up past week, it is thing we thought astir for a spot longer. The archetypal fractional of the play were moments we talked astir with him. I thought helium was capable to bash this oregon bash it successful moments.

'Three afloat backs are injured truthful past it is simply a prime of playing a centre back, but we felt that to person a accidental to triumph the crippled we had to play amended than successful the distant game. A hazard to play determination arsenic a midfielder but I thought helium could assistance with the creativity.

'He did precise good defensively, beardown show from him and bully to person different option.'

Both Robertson and Slot pointed to his calmness connected the shot and his creativity was surely his main property present – but the biggest moments came successful a antiaircraft sense. There was a last-ditch clearance successful stoppage clip and a mates of well-timed tackles, too.

One lucifer astatine close backmost does not mean Jones is the reply if Alexander-Arnold was to permission this summer — Conor Bradley would person a happening oregon 2 to accidental astir that — but it was surely a pleasing audition and different happening for Slot to see successful the future.