Jones keen to draw on cup experiences
Two matches, nine months apart, epitomise Brad Jones' relationship with the FA Cup – and both experiences will serve equally to inspire the goalkeeper when he faces Bournemouth on Saturday.
April 14, 2012, was a day to remember for a host of reasons, not least the fact that Jones secured his first start for Liverpool, at Wembley against Everton in an enthralling FA Cup semi-final win.
Contrast the scenes of joy that greeted the final whistle on that hot spring afternoon in the capital to the ones that unfolded at Boundary Park the following January.
Jones and his teammates trudged from the turf having been turned over and eliminated from the tournament by League One outfit Oldham Athletic in the fourth round of the cup.
As Brendan Rodgers' side journey south to face the Championship opposition at the same stage of the tournament, Jones insists there can be no repeat of last year's shortcomings.
And he's desperate to relive the highs of the previous campaign, when Liverpool progressed right through to the final of the cup, only to be narrowly beaten by Chelsea.
"We've got to go out and make sure that we're focused on the job against Bournemouth," he told Liverpoolfc.com.
"We've got to perform like we've performed in the majority of games this season. If we do that, then we should get the right result. But on the day, it just comes down to mentality.
"I enjoy the cup competitions. I've had the chance to play in two semi-finals. One I lost with Middlesbrough, one I won with Liverpool [against Everton in 2012].
"I haven't been fortunate enough to play in a final, but it is a big competition once you get to that stage.
"I think people can dismiss the FA Cup early doors, maybe not take it too seriously. But once you get to the quarter-final or semi-finals, people start to think: there's a trophy here and we've got to really go for it.
"The fans notice that and think it's a chance to go to Wembley. As players, you want medals at the end of your career. It's a chance to get one and something that all of the boys in the dressing room will want.
"They'll want to have those medals and lift the trophy. It's something that we'll take seriously and we'd like to [go to Wembley] again. A couple of years ago we got there and it was a good run.
"There'll be a few of the younger boys who haven't had the chance to win a trophy. The days are really special when you get to the finals. It's something that we would all like to achieve and hopefully we can get there."
Jones was handed his first start of the current campaign when the Reds faced Oldham at Anfield in the third round of this year's competition in early January.
The Australian turned in an assured display as the home side sealed a comfortable 2-0 victory through an Iago Aspas half-volley and James Tarkowski's own goal in front of the Kop.
During a press conference on Thursday afternoon, Reds boss Rodgers confirmed that Jones will start against Bournemouth on Saturday - and the No.1 insists he and his teammates will be fully prepared for the task that awaits them at the Goldsands Stadium.
"We have a large backroom staff, who research everything, so it doesn't matter who we play - it's the same for every game," said Jones. "We have the same analysis and everything is set up exactly the same.
"For us, we know what we're going to get going into the game in general. It's just another game we have to focus on.
"It was good to get out on the pitch against Oldham. Sometimes it's difficult having not played a competitive game for so long. I was happy to get out and play.
"It doesn't matter who it's against. They can be difficult games as we've seen before. I was pleased overall."