Jones is coming of age after first goal
LIVERPOOL teenager Curtis Jones reflected on a perfect weekend after scoring his first Premier League goal less than 24 hours after signing a new five-year contract.
The 19-year-old, who grew up in Toxteth like another club favourite Robbie Fowler, came off the bench to score the second in a 2-0 win over Aston Villa.
After extending his decadelong association with the Reds the day before, the only downside to a whirlwind 48 hours was that no fans were present to witness the completion of every local lad’s dream of a goal in front of the Kop.
But Jones, who scored a brilliant winner at the other end to knock Merseyside rivals Everton out of the FA Cup in January, is already looking to his future.
“They could call it perfect but, for me, I’m just grateful for the manager and the rest of the staff for having the belief in me and putting me out there when it was only 1-0 and Villa were playing well,” he told liverpoolfc.com.
“But it’s been a good week. He (Jurgen Klopp) was just saying the usual, he knows that I’m good on the ball but it’s about picking the right pass and knowing when to dribble.
“He said... just to try and get a hold of the game by the scruff of the neck and control the game a bit more.
“That’s what I tried to do and hopefully the goal helped.
“I think for any young lad that’s coming into the team like this, I think you’ve got to be confident, you’ve got to be brave and want to get on the ball. That’s what I try and do.”
Klopp has included Jones and fellow youngsters, Wrexham-born Neco Williams and Harvey Elliott, in his squad since the new restart regulations allowed for extra substitutions.
It appears all will get more chances before the end of the season when the timing is right for Klopp.
“They are all good enough,” said the manager.
“It was really hard when you bring on Curtis and – only for a minute – Neco and Harvey is sitting there and you’re thinking ‘wow’, because he is incredible in training already.
“When the boys are the right choice in that moment they will play, but they will not play just because they are young.”