Slot breathes easier as Jones sparkles in diamond shape

It isn’t the most infamous interview a Liverpool player has conducted after a match of late. Not any more, anyway. But after PSV Eindhoven won 4-1 to inflict Liverpool’s joint-heaviest European defeat at Anfield and take their run to nine losses in 12 games, Curtis Jones declared that they were “in the shit”.

- RICHARD JOLLY IN MILAN

Two weeks on, with no more losses but one notable exile from the squad, Jones felt it was too soon to say they are out of the brown stuff now. “The last one [at Leeds], we were 2-0 up and we drew the game,” he said, continuing his habit of plain speaking. “There were fans there that probably thought we were still in the shit.”

Nevertheless, much has changed. Liverpool are four games unbeaten, which wouldn’t have sounded like much last season but is a radical improvement now. Jones kept repeating that beating Inter Milan in the San Siro was “only one game”. What a game, though. It had far less drama than the 3-3 draw at Elland Road, and it hinged on two VAR decisions. Liverpool abandoned the chaos of much of the season and embraced caution and control.

They were minutes away from the first goalless draw of Arne Slot’s reign. It could have been a new scoreline for them. As it was, Jones said: “The mind frame has changed.” So, too, the style of play. “We had to show fight and dig in,” said Andy Robertson. “The clean sheet was crucial.” Which didn’t feel the Liverpool way when they appeared to be trying to win 3-2 or 4-2 every week a few months back.