Curtis Jones discusses competing with 'world class' options at Liverpool

Curtis Jones has insisted he is comfortable with being part of a midfield rotation and is used to competing for places with 'world-class' stars.

Now 22, the homegrown midfielder has becomes something of a favourite for Jurgen Klopp, starting four times in the Premier League this season, before his red card against Tottenham.

Despite a summer of upheaval that saw the arrival of four new options for a combined total of around £145m, Jones has continued to fare well and could now even be considered the manager's preferred option on the left side of the midfield three.

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The young star even captained Liverpool in the Carabao Cup win over Leicester in September.

Speaking ahead of the Europa League clash with Toulouse on Thursday evening, Jones maintained that playing well is the key to holding down a place amid 'world-class' competition for places.

He said: "It's Liverpool at the end of the day, competition is always tough, at 17 the competition was (Gini) Wijnaldum, (Jordan) Henderson, (Naby) Keita, (Alex) Oxlade-Chamberlain, so it's always been world class.

"Now it's been freshened up but if you play well you keep your place. If not it'll get changed around.

"Each game at a time I'd say. Sometimes we'll change but the lads who come in for the other comps do a job in each game. The Premier League team won't always be exact team as Europa League but, as fans have seen, the team changes and we can still win games."

He later added: "If you play well, you keep your place. If not you can change it around. They can always change it and that's just a world-class club, it attracts the best lads who want to play. That's just what it is."

A shoo-in start against Toulouse, Jones will be suspended for Liverpool's clash with Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Sunday, as he sees out a three-match ban.

Despite being trusted by Klopp, the former England Under-21 star is something of a divisive figure among some sections of Liverpool's fanbase.

Addressing how he deals with criticism, Jones added: "I couldn't care. People will say 'he's the next this or that' when you play well.

"I am a Scouser, we're used to dealing with bad parts, it doesn't faze me."