There was a time when Liverpool fans would be out in force defending Jordan Henderson against other supporters deriding him for his place in the England squad. During his time at Anfield, the midfielder was regularly lambasted by rival fans for a perceived negative style of play. Never mind the fact that he was playing regularly for one of Europe’s best sides and regularly lifting trophies.
Nowadays though, you’re more likely to find Liverpool fans joining in on the chorus of perplexity, and with good reason. To use a TV analogy, Gareth Southgate has effectively jumped the shark at this point.
Despite Henderson leaving the Premier League for a much inferior league, where he now plays in front of crowds lots of non-league clubs in England would be embarrassed by, he still manages to earn a place in the Three Lions squad. Such is Southgate’s puzzling loyalty to the 33-year-old that, despite England having already booked its place at Euro 2024, you’ll probably see him waste an opportunity to look at some up-and-coming players in favor of giving Henderson yet more game time.
The calls for Henderson to be dropped are growing thanks to James Ward-Prowse’s superb start to life at West Ham, but he’s not the only midfielder who should be considered ahead of the former Liverpool captain now. Cole Palmer was this week added to Southgate’s squad, but only after James Maddison pulled out through injury.
And before too long, the England manager will surely have to recognize the man who ultimately usurped Henderson at Liverpool. After all, it’s worth remembering he left Anfield as he had fallen down the pecking order.
Curtis Jones isn’t available for this week’s international break, having picked up a knock prior to Liverpool’s clash at Luton. Once he returns though, Southgate has no excuse not to sit up and take notice — after all, another England coach already has.
Lee Carsley led the U21s to European Championship glory during the summer, with Jones playing a starring role, and he is in no doubt as to the 22-year-old’s quality.
“Similar to Cole (Palmer), I’m not surprised one bit (by how he’s doing),” Carsley recently told reporters (via the ECHO). “Curtis would be up there with the most talented players I’ve worked with.
“He’s got everything that you need as a midfielder. He can run, he is very, very fast, he’s powerful, he can score, he can assist, he can defend, he can take the ball — all he needs is opportunity.
“The way he’s played when I’ve seen him play, he’s been outstanding. He just needed to stay fit.
“I know he’s struggled sometimes with that consistency of playing but to see him take that form that he showed in the summer, that responsibility, the understanding of the position, into playing for Liverpool is brilliant to see.”
One thing stands out in Carsley’s review: Jones needs an opportunity. He’s been getting that at Liverpool under Jürgen Klopp, so surely Southgate will have to follow suit soon?
After all, Jones’ opportunity last season led to him overtaking Henderson in the pecking order at Anfield. As the saying goes, out with the old, in with the new — although don’t count on Southgate to follow that mantra.
