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Curtis Jones listens to Jurgen Klopp’s request
It was a different kind of season for Curtis Jones in Liverpool’s first team.
The midfielder put his name firmly on the availability list last quarter as he made a dozen appearances in total, half of them in cup competitions.
These 12 games provided enough highlights to hint at a glorious future.
A stunning Merseyside derby winner in January was followed by his becoming the youngest Liverpool captain in history the following month against Shrewsbury at Anfield.
Throwing a first Premier League goal alongside a winning penalty at the Kop End in a League Cup draw with Arsenal and that was enough to whet the appetite of the Liverpool faithful for another emerging superstarlet from the Kirkby Academy.
But while her debut album received critical acclaim for its handful of hit singles, the often difficult second offering is even better because of its more polished sound.
Jones has now avoided spectacular sprinkling for more sustained and consistent spells of excellence at Liverpool.
Playing in a Jurgen Klopp midfielder is certainly one of the toughest jobs in world football.
Combining technical prowess with a tireless work ethic means that few people can apply for a job in the three-person engine room.
Add to that the fact that Klopp asked Jones in an analysis meeting this week to try and become more of a goal threat and the task of shining just got a bit more difficult for him.
As the Reds battle for the goals, Klopp believed the downtown-born midfielder could be an answer and explained how he could do it in a meeting at the AXA training center.
It was a challenge Jones didn’t shy away from, however, as he calmed nerves with a well-taken first goal, responding to Klopp’s demands in the process.
He may be at the very start of what is sure to be a sensational career, but the England Under-21 international is now a major player in this squad.
Jones is no longer trying to impress at Liverpool. Now he just does it.
The talent pool gets deeper
Liverpool’s absentee list was a who’s who of elite talent. Virgil van Dijk, Jordan Henderson, Alisson Becker, Joel Matip, Joe Gomez, Fabinho and Diogo Jota.
Hundreds of millions of talent was not available for Jurgen Klopp as he tried to make his way through the most difficult time of his reign of Anfield.
Of course, the Reds’ injury list, as it has been all season long, is the subject of intense debate and there is not much to add here.
But after getting the job done under encouraging circumstances on Sunday night, it feels like the cavalry – or at least a part of it – is returning at a convenient time for Klopp.
After giving their first four prospects a much needed boost at Bramall Lane, Liverpool are now preparing for another game which could claim to be the biggest of the campaign so far.
Chelsea arrive in town on Thursday night with the Reds aiming to stop an Anfield crisis that has placed them on a four-game losing streak for the first time since 1923.
Most importantly, the talent pool to choose from is growing deeper and deeper for Klopp.
Jota, who was sent back to Merseyside on Sunday after complaining of an overnight illness at the Liverpool hotel, is expected to return against Londoners.
The same is true for Fabinho, who might even be allowed to play in his natural position in front of all four full-backs given the solid, albeit unspectacular contributions of Ozan Kabak and Nat Phillips at center-back.
And Alisson Becker, Klopp hinted, will also likely remember avoiding this one after his father’s tragic death.
Add back cameos from up-and-coming Naby Keita and reliable James Milner and the team look a lot healthier than they’ve been in a while. Even though the medical staff at the club still work a lot of overtime.
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Ozan Kabak and Nat Phillips stabilize the ship
A rare Liverpool phenomenon was spotted at Bramall Lane around 7.15pm.
As the Reds stepped onto the pitch to start proceedings against Chris Wilder’s charges, two actual center-backs could be seen in the visiting team.
It has been some time since Klopp has been able, or willing, to name a team with two players whose reputation has been formed as specialist center-backs.
Perhaps since Joe Gomez completed his England tour in November in fact, Fabinho and later Jordan Henderson have been tasked with filling one of the two places at the back in recent months.
But here’s Nat Phillips and Ozan Kabak, who have teamed up for the second time, continuing a burgeoning partnership that can perhaps best be described as no-frills.
Both players, despite being 23 and 20, appear to have learned their lessons in the old school.
Settling for winning headers, keeping it simple, and using their physique, both Kabak and Phillips limited the Blades to little for long stretches of the game.
Considering that the home side have only scored 15 times all season, this is probably not the most impressive of the Premier League’s achievements, but baby steps are what is needed at the moment in the Liverpool center-back ranks.
Kabak’s goal blush was spared an offside flag in the first half before Phillips was passed by substitute Oliver Burke, but the two did enough to earn a clean sheet bonus in all.
The jury will remain on the loaned Kabak, likely until the last day of the season has dawned and Phillips is unlikely to be a long-term feature on that squad, but a buildable base has been provided by the couple.
They have earned the right to continue offering that, starting with Chelsea on Thursday.
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