Jurgen Klopp has paid tribute to Curtis Jones' evolution after the Liverpool midfielder bagged a brace in Monday night's 3-0 win over Leicester.
Jones, 22, struggled with injuries at the start of the campaign the but the versatile midfielder has now started in Liverpool's last nine matches. And the England Under-21 international managed to punctuate his latest standout display with two well-taken goals to boost the Reds' Champions League hopes.
The Liverpool academy graduate broke the deadlock with a slick half-volley at the back post on the half hour mark before doubling his tally just three minutes later with an even sweeter strike from the edge of the box.
Although Klopp is expected to complete a much-needed overhaul of his midfield in the summer, the German has been given plenty of food for thought by Jones, who has become a fixture in a Liverpool team that has now won seven successive matches.
And the Liverpool chief made it clear that the midfielder's evolution, particularly in terms of his consistency and his work off the ball, has not gone unnoticed.
Speaking after the match, Klopp said: “He improved a lot, so I think a lot of things came together. You should not forget he is still a young boy and one or two years ago he played super games for us as well. Then he had a difficult spell with injuries, that's true – strange injuries, a finger in the eye and stuff like this. It took him out for a real while, but this year was especially bad.
“He could watch a lot of football, he could understand the game better and it looks really like that. I think where he improved the most is counter-pressing, it's exceptional, and speed of play. He doesn't keep the ball that long anymore – he does that, and has to do in moments, but he is much quicker in decision-making and stuff like this.
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“That he is a good finisher, we saw now a couple of times, both goals were absolutely exceptional. I am not sure they were real chances. First with the left foot, a similar goal to the last goal he scored [against Tottenham]. The second one is a super finish. He is in a good moment, really cool.”
While Jones has always been viewed as a high-potential player, Klopp admitted last year that he had told the youngster that he needed to start delivering the goods on the pitch after a frank heart-to-heart.
Speaking back in January 2022, Klopp said: “I had a long talk last week with Curtis, because I love the boy and I love the potential he has. But we have to now really make the next steps and make sure that he fulfils the potential he has on the pitch.
“You have these kinds of conversations when you are not 100 percent happy with the moment. That’s where we are in Curtis’s development.”
