Arne Slot has just thrown the football world a curveball that no one at the Stadium of Light will see coming.
After Dominik Szoboszlai’s dramatic red card in the 113th minute of Liverpool’s heartbreaking 2-1 defeat to Manchester City, the Hungarian star is suspended for Wednesday’s crucial Premier League clash against Sunderland. What started as a heroic night — Szoboszlai smashing home a stunning free-kick to open the scoring — ended in disaster when he fouled Erling Haaland, leaving Slot with yet another defensive headache.
With Jeremie Frimpong, Conor Bradley, and potentially Joe Gomez all sidelined, the Reds boss has been forced to get creative at right-back once again. But what he’s cooking up for the trip to Wearside is nothing short of explosive.
The Bombshell: Curtis Jones at Right-Back!
Slot has confirmed he’s back at the drawing board, and reliable reports point to one jaw-dropping solution: Curtis Jones starting at right-back.
Yes, you read that right. The versatile midfielder, who has barely featured in recent weeks (coming off the bench in Liverpool’s last three Premier League games), is set to be thrown into the fire in an unfamiliar role on one of the most hostile grounds in the league.
Slot hinted at his thinking after the City game: “He [Gomez] is back from being out for three weeks, would you play him now? I have to make that decision. Let’s see what decision we make. We have other players that can play that position as well.”
Those “other players” include Jones, Andy Robertson, and even Wataru Endo — but Jones is the favourite to get the nod. Robertson is expected to shift over to left-back to give Milos Kerkez a much-needed rest after a hectic schedule.
This isn’t just a patch-up job. This is Slot showing his tactical flexibility and trust in squad depth at the worst possible moment — with less than 48 hours’ recovery time.
Here’s the bombshell predicted lineup (4-2-3-1) that Sunderland will be scrambling to prepare for:
Alisson; Jones, Konaté, Van Dijk, Robertson; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Salah, Chiesa, Wirtz; Ekitike
Curtis Jones — Emergency right-back. A bold call that could pay massive dividends with his energy and passing range.Andy Robertson — Shifting to the left to allow rotation.Federico Chiesa — Likely to come in and give either Cody Gakpo or the red-hot Florian Wirtz a breather. After limited starts, the Italian is chomping at the bit.Hugo Ekitike continues up top with Alexander Isak still sidelined.
The rest of the spine remains rock-solid: Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté in central defence, Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister shielding them. Mohamed Salah stays on the right, hungry to end his recent goal drought.
Sunderland will be rubbing their hands at the prospect of facing a makeshift Liverpool defence on a short turnaround in front of a fired-up home crowd at the Stadium of Light. But Slot’s surprise selection could actually catch them completely off guard.
Jones isn’t a natural full-back, but his intelligence, ball-carrying ability, and work rate could turn the flank into an attacking weapon rather than a weakness. Pair that with Robertson’s experience on the other side, and Liverpool suddenly look far more balanced than expected.
Chiesa’s potential inclusion adds fresh legs and directness in attack — perfect for a game where fatigue will be a major factor.
Slot knows the stakes. Liverpool need to bounce back quickly after the City loss, and this audacious reshuffle screams “we’re not panicking — we’re adapting.”
The Reds travel to the Stadium of Light on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at 8:15pm GMT, live on TNT Sports.
Injured: Frimpong, Bradley, Isak, Leoni Doubt: Gomez Suspended: Szoboszlai
This is the kind of night where legends are made — or where bold selections get exposed. But if Jones delivers, if Chiesa sparks something special, and if the big guns fire, Liverpool could silence the Stadium of Light and send a huge message to the rest of the Premier League.
Sunderland won’t know what’s hit them.
This is the bombshell they never saw coming. Are you ready for one of the most surprising Liverpool lineups of the season? Drop your thoughts below — will Jones thrive at right-back, or is this a gamble too far? 🔥
What a week it’s shaping up to be. This is why we love football.