Curtis Jones has hit back at Florian Wirtz’s critics after the German recorded his first two Champions League assists for Liverpool. The 22-year-old is yet to produce a goal contribution from his eight Premier League appearances, and has recently been benched for the Reds’ clashes with Everton, Chelsea and Manchester United.

But he was restored to Arne Slot’s starting XI with great effect against Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday night as he helped fire Liverpool to an emphatic 5-1 victory back in his homeland.

The playmaker started on the right wing as the Reds lined up in a 4-4-2 formation with Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike in attack, but was given more of a free role to move central when Liverpool were in possession and impressed both Jones and team-mate Andy Robertson.

And in an eye-catching performance, he was rewarded with two assists as...