With Klopp having to refresh his side on a small budget, the emergence of teen star Jones could add more bite in his midfield

THE immaculate home record is gone but for Jurgen Klopp there was a hint of the perfection to come.

It had been 528 days since Liverpool last lost a point at Anfield so this draw with a committed Burnley side “felt like a defeat” according to their manager. He was angry, he said, because the chance to win every top-flight home game had gone.

Angry too with the performance of referee David Coote, who offered little protection to Kop keeper Alisson and denied Andy Robertson what appeared a clear penalty.

Yet the Klopp fire – more evident than ever without fans to drown out his impressively colourful use of English as a second language – was extinguished slightly by talk of what lies in store in the shape of teenager Curtis Jones.

Jones seems to have been around so long it is hard to believe this was his first Premier League start for Liverpool. His performance was that of someone who wanted to make a statement about that wait.

Perhaps it was a statement for the future too.

Klopp (below) knows he won’t be bringing in many new faces this summer, if any, so these final few games are less about records and more about making his young talent ready to fill any gaps next season.

And some pundits are impressed.

Danny Murphy suggested: “Jones is going to save Liverpool a lot of money in the transfer market.”

Given there is no real money to spend this summer, such a prospect is vital for Klopp, even if he plays it down.

“I’m not sure it’s about how high the stakes are, it’s about how ready are the boys,” he said. “There are no old and young players, there are only good and not so good players, and I hope we have only good players; exceptional players!

“The problem, not just for young players, but all players not in the starting line-up at the moment, is that this team is really good. So it is difficult to play 40 games in a row.

“But young players have so much time on their hands that they really can improve. And they don’t have the pressure, especially not from us.

“If they use the time then the future is beautiful for them.”

There are some gaps to be filled – Adam Lallana will depart and James Milner is not getting any younger – so midfield is an area where Klopp needs new blood. His hope is Jone will provide it.

Reds midfielder Fabinho certainly thinks he can.

“Curtis is a very talented player with huge potential,” Fabinho said. “We have a lot of confidence in him. He works very hard with us and he has a lot of personality.”

Jones, who almost won the match with a shot that flew inches wide, helped Liverpool provide a compelling first half