Jones at Right Back and Jota’s Goal Key as Liverpool Win Merseyside Derby | OneFootball

Curtis Jones Steps Up, Jota Delivers – Liverpool Edge Everton in Derby Battle

Gritty Derby Win Keeps Liverpool on Top

Liverpool returned from the international break with a tense but valuable 1-0 victory over city rivals Everton, keeping their title hopes alive and the bragging rights firmly red. It wasn’t a perfect performance, but as PanenkaLFC noted in his latest post-match breakdown, it was the kind of result that “sets the tone as we kick off this final stretch of the season.”

The game wasn’t short of controversy. “Samuel Barrett is a very lucky man,” PanenkaLFC remarked, referring to the referee’s baffling decisions. A “straight red card for James Tarkowski just 10 minutes into the game and a clear penalty on Darwin Núñez in the second half” were both waved away. Still, the focus was on performance rather than officiating. “We like to keep the ref talk to a minimum,” he added. “So let’s leave it at that.”

Tactical Tweaks and Curtis Jones’ New Role

One of the standout talking points was the surprise deployment of Curtis Jones at right back. With Trent Alexander-Arnold still out and Conor Bradley not quite ready, Arne Slot opted for the Scouser in a less familiar position. “To be fair to him, he did a pretty solid job,” PanenkaLFC said.

But Jones wasn’t just filling in – he was integral to Liverpool’s tactical setup. “Both Jones and Robertson acted like that Newton’s Cradle… depending on where the ball was,” explained PanenkaLFC. “If the ball was on the left, then Jones would step into central areas… If the ball was on the right, Robertson would do the same from his side.”

This fluid movement allowed Liverpool to overload the middle and create isolation opportunities for Luis Díaz and Mohamed Salah. Although the Reds struggled to make the most of these chances in the first half – “Our possession in the final third felt a bit flat and lacking in real threat,” PanenkaLFC admitted – the rhythm improved after the break.

Second-Half Spark and Jota’s Clutch Moment

The opening 20 minutes of the second half saw Liverpool increase the tempo and finally start unlocking Everton’s compact defensive block. “We started moving the ball quicker, spotting the runs of players like Mac Allister and Jota,” PanenkaLFC observed.

That urgency paid off. “That’s exactly how we got our goal.” Diogo Jota struck late to seal the win, though Everton fans may claim interference from Díaz in the build-up. “All right, we’ll give them that,” said PanenkaLFC, but quickly added: “Are they going to give us that red card and the penalty?”

The moment captured the fine margins of derby day, but also the resilience of this Liverpool side. “Sometimes grinding out results like this is exactly what Champions do.”

Jones Impresses Again as Liverpool March On

Curtis Jones’ performance deserved more than a passing mention. His adaptability and intelligence in an unfamiliar role was a major plus. “Across five games where he’s played as a right back, Jones has won 13 out of 19 duels, made 26 recoveries, seven interceptions, and has a 94% pass completion rate,” noted PanenkaLFC. “That’s not bad at all.”

While there’s no suggestion that Jones will become a full-time right back, the ability to fill in effectively adds valuable depth for Arne Slot. As PanenkaLFC summarised: “We kept our spot at the top, got a clean sheet and saw some interesting tactical tweaks that might come in handy down the stretch.”

It wasn’t vintage Liverpool, but it didn’t have to be. The three points matter more than the polish – especially in a derby.