Curtis Jones: Liverpool’s Unsung Hero as Reds Crush Eintracht Frankfurt

Liverpool arrived in Frankfurt under mounting pressure, having lost four consecutive matches across all competitions. The Champions League clash against Eintracht Frankfurt wasn’t just another group game — it was a chance to stop the rot and rediscover their rhythm. Their hosts, however, were also desperate for a response after going three games without a win and suffering a humbling 5-1 defeat to Atlético Madrid in their previous European outing.

Ekitike Returns to Familiar Ground

Eintracht’s attacking record made them unpredictable opponents — 17 goals scored but 19 conceded in their previous six fixtures. Much of the pre-match talk surrounded Hugo Ekitike, who faced his former club for the first time since moving to Anfield in the summer. Many wondered whether emotion might affect his performance if selected by Arne Slot.

Mo Salah’s absence for a second consecutive Champions League match — the first time that’s happened since he joined in 2017 — raised eyebrows before kickoff.

Germans Strike First

The opening exchanges offered little goalmouth action until Alexander Isak tested Michael Zetterer twice early on. Against the run of play, though, Rasmus Kristensen put Eintracht ahead, ghosting in unmarked at the back post to fire home.

It was yet another game without a clean sheet for Liverpool, who had now conceded in 16 of their last 18 matches — a worrying trend for Slot.

But with nearly 80% possession by the half-hour mark, Liverpool’s response felt inevitable.

And, fittingly, it was Ekitike who levelled the score — sprinting in behind the Frankfurt defence to collect Andrew Robertson’s long pass before calmly slotting past Zetterer. The goal made him the first player in Eintracht history to both score for and against the club in European competition.

Set-Piece Dominance

Liverpool’s comeback gathered momentum through set-piece precision. Virgil van Dijk powered home a header from a corner on 38 minutes, before Ibrahima Konaté repeated the feat six minutes later.

Van Dijk’s goal was his 26th headed strike for Liverpool — 30 in total — with all five of his Champions League goals coming via his head. Only Harry Kane (34) has more headed goals for a single club in Premier League history.

By halftime, Eintracht had conceded their fifth goal in the final 15 minutes of a first half this campaign — a clear sign of their defensive fragility.

Dominik Szoboszlai orchestrated much of Liverpool’s first-half dominance, completing 54 of 55 passes (98%) and assisting Konaté’s goal. He would later cap his night with a deserved late strike.

Second-Half Control

Alexander Isak’s difficult evening ended at halftime — withdrawn after registering just a 66.7% pass completion, the lowest of any outfield player. His replacement, Federico Chiesa, showed more spark but failed to find the target.

Liverpool remained relentless. Cody Gakpo fired in a fourth goal from Florian Wirtz’s first competitive assist for the club — not counting his Community Shield contribution — before Wirtz set up Szoboszlai again for the fifth just minutes later.

The 5-1 scoreline marked Liverpool’s first four-goal haul in the Champions League since November 2024, also against German opposition (Bayer Leverkusen).

For Wirtz, it was a breakthrough display — his seven recoveries and seven touches in the opposition box were both team highs, underlining his growing influence.

Curtis Jones: The Quiet Conductor

Arne Slot used the closing stages to rest key players ahead of a tricky trip to Brentford, even granting Salah a 15-minute cameo — which he used well, registering three shots and showing his sharpness despite the benching.

But the night truly belonged to Curtis Jones, whose tireless performance in midfield knitted everything together. Liverpool completed 699 passes — their most since the start of last season — and Jones was central to that dominance.

He attempted 127 passes, at least 17 more than anyone else on the pitch, and completed 122 of them — an exceptional 96.1% accuracy rate. Beyond his passing, he contested the most one-on-one duels (nine) and won the joint-most (five), showcasing both composure and aggression.

It was a statement performance from a player often overshadowed by bigger names. As Liverpool finally rediscovered their swagger in Europe, Curtis Jones emerged as the night’s unsung hero — and perhaps, a key figure in Slot’s evolving Liverpool side.