Liverpool boss Slot hails Jones's stamina and skill

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has praised Curtis Jones's willingness to get involved in tough situations, as the midfielder's return has coincided with the Premier League champions' best run of results since September.

The 24-year-old academy graduate was a stand-out performer in a Champions League victory away to Inter Milan, the second of his five successive starts, earlier this month and he has built on that display with a key role in four consecutive wins.

Jones may have been the beneficiary of injuries to the now fit-again Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak and the suspension of Dominik Szoboszlai, but with the midfield now close to full strength – and only Wataru Endo still sidelined – he has made his case to keep a starting berth.

"One of the main qualities he has is that he always wants to have the ball no matter the situation, 99 times out of 100 that is very positive," said Slot.

"The most positive thing for him is that he is able to stay fit for four or five games in a row now, 90 minutes every time."

Liverpool suffered a woeful run of nine defeats in 12 matches earlier this season but have since bounced back and head into their New Year's Day clash against Leeds at Anfield fourth in the table, but still 13 points adrift of leaders Arsenal.

Slot is now looking to maintain that progress despite being without British record signing Isak, who is sidelined for at least a couple of months after surgery on a broken leg, and fellow summer transfer window arrival Giovanni Leoni, whose season was ended by an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

"Unfortunately we won't see Giovanni Leoni this season and Alex will take a long time before we see him again," said Slot.