Emmet Gates reckons that Curtis Jones struggled in Liverpool's 2-2 draw with Manchester City on Sunday.

Following his impressive recent form for the Reds, the academy graduate was given the responsibility to start the crunch clash against the champions, although Gates thought that the game passed him by.

What were Jones' stats like against City?

Liverpool and City might not be the top-two in the current Premier League standings, but they've been the best two sides in English football for the previous three years and on this evidence, are likely to battle it out for the title once again, although Chelsea will have plenty to say about that.

Unsurprisingly, they welcomed back the Anfield crowd for their first clash against a rival with a full stadium by serving up a classic.

Jurgen Klopp's men will feel disappointed with just a point after leading twice after goals from Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah, but it felt like an afternoon where it was more important to not lose rather than a must-win game.

But whilst Salah and Mane were at their reliable best and turned up for the big occasion like so often in the past, Jones' turned in the worst WhoScored rating (6.84) from any of his previous four starts this season despite assisting Salah's remarkable second, albeit with a simple pass to the Egyptian.

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ENTER GIVEAWAY

Jones didn't receive much joy in the final-third, but still showed his ability to keep possession when under the cosh against one of the best teams in Europe.

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Gates, though, still reckons that the 20-year-old, who was named man of the match against Porto five days earlier, wasn't at his best.

What did Gates say?

He told GIVEMESPORT: "Against Man City, he did struggle, the game sort of passed him by for large parts, but I think that's a good thing for Liverpool fans. You can't expect him to be brilliant game in game out.

"He is going to have games like that where he is outmanoeuvred, and that's no dig on Jones, Manchester City are the reigning champions and you're playing against a brilliant midfield."

Is Jones likely to keep his place against Watford?

Jones' starting place at Vicarage Road could depend on several things.

Firstly, when Klopp has had a fully fit midfield to chose from, he's picked Thiago Alcantara to start alongside Henderson and Fabinho, which will work against Jones if the Spaniard if fit, plus there's every possibility that against a side that Liverpool are expected to dominate the Reds manager might opt to go with another attacker, which could see Jones sacrificed.

Jones dropping out isn't necessarily any fault of his own, though. Klopp often likes to rotate his midfielders, especially with a Champions League trip to Atletico Madrid to come three days later.