Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has admitted that Curtis Jones could still use the ball a little quicker at times.
Jones was the star man on Wednesday night. The 22-year-old bagged a brace as Liverpool battered West Ham United 5-1.
Asked about the midfielder’s performance after the game for Sky Sports, Klopp said that Jones’ goals were the perfect example of what he’s been telling him to do.
“I’m really happy for him because the skill set is immense but sometimes he forgets to speed the game up,” said the Liverpool boss.
“The second goal is what Curtis can do as well. He has this speed, he has this ability. We tell him quite frequently.
“Hopefully tonight is an eye-opener for him and he is like ‘ah okay’. So that’s a possibility for me as well. So, yes, top game. He looked really, really sharp for the whole 90 minutes.”
Klopp issues Jones reminder
Klopp’s little message to Curtis here is pretty much exactly what Liverpool fans have been saying ever since the Scouser graduated from the academy.
Yes, he has so much ability. And yes, Jones now does look like a nailed-on starter in the biggest games for the Reds.
But the one thing really holding him back – aside from injuries – is his tendency to hold onto the ball for too long. At times you find yourself screaming at Curtis to release it.
The way Liverpool like to play – with intensity and energy – this can sometimes be a real killer for momentum.
Granted, Jones has gotten much better at this over recent months. And to be honest it’s absolutely great to hear Jurgen bring it up. Clearly, it’s something that has caught the manager’s attention, too.
Tonight was a great show of what Jones can do when he decides to go for the jugular, though.
In the past, he wouldn’t have even attempted to put his first goal through the legs of Alphonse Areola. Curtis would have dillied and dallied and waited for a pass. On his second, he also went direct, didn’t mess about and stuck it in the net.
There’s still so much more to come from Jones. Klopp’s words here are just another indication that once he irons out all these little kinks, he’s going to be some player. In fact, he already is.
Sky presenter says Cody Gakpo did something he’s never seen before in his post-match interview tonight
Sky presenter Mark Chapman praised Cody Gakpo’s post-match interview following Liverpool’s win over West Ham United tonight.
Gakpo was on the scoresheet for the Reds, grabbing himself a much-need goal during the 5-1 rout over the Hammers. The Dutchman wasn’t the star of the show at Anfield though, Curtis Jones picking up the Man of the Match award.
And having handed over the bottle of bubbly during a joint post-match interview on Sky Sports, Gakpo took time out to praise Jones.
“Santa is coming early!” smiled the Liverpool forward. “I have a quick word. Very proud of you. You are working really hard, nobody sees it obviously, because it is behind closed doors but you deserve all the best. Keep going brother!”
Cutting back to the studio, Chapman seemed a little stunned by what he’d just seen from Gakpo “I’m not sure I have ever seen that,” said the presenter. “I really like that! That shows that spirit within them and the spirit within the squad.”
“Let’s see that more!” Jamie Redknapp agreed. “I think it’s quite nice.”
Gakpo shows his leadership
This was a superb little moment that we’ve no doubt Jurgen Klopp will absolutely love if he sees it.
It is indeed rare to see a player give a speech in the manner Gakpo did before handing over a Man of the Match.
Of course, there’s usually a mumbled ‘well done,’ followed by a handshake of some sort. But how often do you see a player go out of his way to deliver the award with a positive message like that.
It’s really the stuff you’d possibly only expect from a player of much more experience than Gakpo.
But there’s a reason Cody was captain of PSV Eindhoven at 23. He’s clearly a mature young man who does his best to elevate those around him.
Should he stay at Liverpool for the years to come, it’s obvious that sooner or later he’ll be brought into Klopp’s leadership group.
Already not short of strong personalities, you really can never have enough of them. Add Gakpo to that list.
As Chapman mentioned, it also shows how strong the spirit within the squad is right now. Team spirit was always what Liverpool’s successes under Klopp have been built on. After a lull in that last season, the feel-good factor is well and truly back. And Gakpo is showing himself to be right at the forefront of that.
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Jamie Carragher is convinced 22-year-old Liverpool star is going to start vs Arsenal now
Jamie Carragher thinks Jurgen Klopp’s selection for Liverpool’s clash with Arsenal has just got a little easier.
The Reds have an enormous game against the Gunners this Saturday, as first take on second in the Premier League. But before that, Liverpool had to navigate a tricky looking tie against West Ham United in the Carabao Cup.
In the end, it was anything but for the Reds. 5-1 winners on an excellent night at Anfield.
One of the star performers of the evening was Curtis Jones. Carragher was raving about the Scouser all night and after handing Jones the Man of the Match award for Sky Sports, the Reds legend said Klopp simply had to start him on Saturday.
“There is no doubt for me he [Jones] has played himself back into Liverpool’s best 11 and he will be playing against Arsenal at half five,” raved the pundit. “He has to.”
Jones plays himself into contention
Even prior to tonight’s game, there was potentially a spot open for Jones heading into the weekend.
Ryan Gravenberch may well end up being fit, but it looks like it will be touch and go for the Dutchman. Meanwhile, with Alexis Mac Allister still out injured, Curtis might have been the favourite anyway.
But after his brilliant performance against the Hammers, Carragher is right, there should be no doubt.
This was the 22-year-old at his absolute best. When given licence to roam from that left-sided slot, Jones is a joy to watch.
If there’s one criticism of Curtis, it’s perhaps that he doesn’t get enough goals. Having bagged just three last season, his first tonight was his maiden strike of the season.
Adding a second should hopefully give the academy graduate the confidence he needs to kick on.
It’s clear that Jones already has the trust of his manager. Klopp always seems to be keen to throw him in for the big games.
If he can add this kind of goal threat to his game on a more consistent basis, there’s nothing stopping him from being a real mainstay for Liverpool going forward.
For now, getting consistently in the team is where Jones needs to start. This is the right way to go about it. Onwards to Saturday!
Jamie Carragher says 22-year-old Liverpool youngster played ‘really well’ vs West Ham tonight
Liverpool breezed into the Carabao Cup semi-finals with a confident win over West Ham United tonight.
It was a much improved display from Liverpool, with several players giving themselves a timely boost ahead of Arsenal’s visit on Saturday.
One of those was Curtis Jones, who has been struggling to make an impact of late. But having got himself on the scoresheet with a finish from a tight angle, Sky Sports commentator Jamie Carragher praised Jones’ performance.
“He has played really well tonight Curtis Jones,” Carragher raved. “When he gets into position he has got a decision to make. More often that not you are looking to pull it back and actually it’s Nunez who does brilliantly. You look up and there is nobody there, he has that glance and then he knows he has to take the shot.
“He goes to go to the goalkeeper’s left, there’s nothing else he can do, I’m sure the goalkeeper is disappointed but great combination play.
“Credit to Curtis Jones reading the situation a lot of times you see people shoot in those situations you see attackers frustrated in the box but there was nobody there.”
Jones earns Carragher praise
Carragher was right to give Jones his due tonight. It wasn’t just the goals – in the end he actually got two – the 22-year-old was fantastic for the full 90 minutes against the Hammers.
Lively and always keen to get himself on the ball, Curtis always looked likely to make something happen.
In the end, there was perhaps a little bit of luck involved in the first one. Having latched onto Nunez’s through ball, the Scouser wasn’t keen to take on the shot.
But with none of his teammates on-hand in the penalty box, Jones didn’t have much choice. Lucky it may have been, but it was perfectly squeezed through.
There was nothing lucky about Jones’ second of the night, though. Picking the ball up just inside the West Ham half, Liverpool’s No.17 got it and just kept on going and going and going.
Slaloming beyond a tired Hammers defence, Jones found the net for the second time in-front of an adoring Kop. What a feeling.
The two-goal display couldn’t have been better timed from Curtis. With places up for grabs in the Liverpool midfield at the moment, he has just put himself right in the picture.
With a few to choose from, Carragher eventually gave the academy graduate the Man of the Match award. Richly deserved on a wonderful night for Jones.
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