Jordan Henderson praises Curtis Jones and claims that the Scouser has played a key part in the team’s resurgence
Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson has heaped praise on Curtis Jones and thinks the young midfielder’s resurgence in form has played a key part in the team doing well.
Jones scored a brace and produced a sensational performance against Leicester City on Monday to help the Reds win that game by 3-0. The 22-year-old has started all of the last nine league games on the left-hand side of the midfield.
Liverpool have won seven and drawn two in that run. His overall game in midfield seems to have taken an upturn and the patience shown by Jurgen Klopp towards him is finally paying off.
Here’s what Henderson said when asked about Jones’ form and him being a key player these days (h/t Liverpool FC Website):
“Everything that he [Jones] has been doing with and without the ball: with the ball it speaks for itself, he rarely gives it away, he’s great in tight spaces, a really clever footballer, the goals he scored were outstanding.
“But also the work-rate without the ball has been key over the last few weeks. He is a great athlete, when he loses it or when we lose it he wins the ball back really quickly for us and his counter-press has been brilliant. He has been a really big plus for us over these last few weeks for sure.”
With Thiago Alcantara injured for a long time to further put Liverpool’s midfield issues into disarray, somebody had to step up and take an opportunity with both hands in the final stage of this season.
Jones has done exactly that and is showing consistency as well. The hope is that he finishes this season off well and has a good pre-season that may help him retain his spot in the team when the new campaign resumes.
Liverpool are expected to make midfield additions in the summer. Only a person living under the rock would not know that. With the likes of James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain leaving for free in the summer, Jurgen Klopp needs quality and quantity in that department.
If Jones continues to do well, he could save us a few million for the club this summer. He has the technical ability, the running and pressing power, an eye for goals or assists and a great deal of protection in passing and possession. Long may it continue!
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But this shouldn’t mean we opt out of signing multiple midfielders. It should be reminded that the quality of opposition we have faced recently isn’t the best and Jones, while in good form, still has a lot to prove to be a pinned starter in our team.
