'I'm buzzing' - Curtis Jones on brace at Leicester, belief and adapting his game
Curtis Jones was 'buzzing' with his brace against Leicester City as he outlined his determination to keep building on a lengthy run in the Liverpool team.
The No.17 was named in Jürgen Klopp’s starting XI for the ninth consecutive match on Monday night and duly rewarded the manager’s faith in the 3-0 victory at King Power Stadium.
Two goals in three minutes before the break put the Reds in command of the Premier League clash, with Jones nudging in the first and thrashing home the second from a pair of Mohamed Salah assists.
Trent Alexander-Arnold then found the top corner from 25 yards after a set-piece routine to clinch a seventh successive win and maintain the pressure in the battle for a top-four finish.
“I’m buzzing, 100 per cent,” Jones told Liverpoolfc.com post-match, before assessing his double versus the Foxes, his desire to keep his place in the side, how he has adapted his game, and more…
On his two strikes during the first half…
The first goal again was a great cross from Mo. We’ve seen it before in the past where I’ve arrived late at the back post and it was a left-footed goal again. The second one was a touch and a shot; normally there I’d try to twist and turn but I thought he [the defender] would have read me a little bit so I’ve just [taken a] touch, shot and I’m fortunate enough that it went in and it ended up being a good goal.
On how much he feels he has grown as a player and in confidence given this run of games in the team…
In terms of confidence, I’ve always been the same lad. I’ve always had the belief in myself but it’s been a tough time, I’ve had the injuries and stuff so I’ve not really had a full run of games in the past. But I came in against Chelsea and I kept my shirt and I’ve still got the shirt now. I’m enjoying it, I’m being humble and keeping my two feet on the ground and I know what it takes, so that’s what I’m doing.
On whether this is the best we’ve seen from him in a red shirt so far and if there is still a lot more to come…
Yeah, definitely and I’ve always said that as well. Being a kid in the Academy days I’ve always scored goals and I wouldn’t say I’ve been the star kid but I’ve always been the kid who has jumped up the age groups. Then I came around the first team and it was kind of a shock where the whole of the game changes, so I’ve had to make a change to the whole of my game. But I’m adapting well and I think it’s the best run I’ve had for a while.
On adapting his game into a central midfield role…
As I said, I’ve had to change my game a lot. In my Academy days I have always been a lad who just wanted to have the ball, run, run, run and shoot and score and try to assist. I’m at a point now where the game is more of an attacking and defending player, so if I don’t have the ball I have to go and press and make sure the space is closed.
On the final home game of the season on Saturday against an Aston Villa side in good form…
Again, it will be a hard game, but all the games are hard, it’s the Premier League. We are going in there with a good streak of wins and we are confident, so we’ll see what happens there.