Liverpool youngster Curtis Jones proved a point.
There were a few eyebrows raised among Liverpool supporters when Curtis Jones was left on the bench at Anfield last night.
The teenager is the under-23s captain and had been talked up ahead of the game against Arsenal, profiled in The Independent.
In a dramatic game, Jones did eventually get his chance. And he proved his point.
He helped Liverpol get back into the match and it was his late cross in injury time which led to Divock Origi’s equaliser.
Jones, 18, created two chances after coming on in the 54th minute, and with a bit more composure. he might have even scored an equaliser minutes earlier when the ball fell to him in the box and he couldn’t quite sort his feet out in time to create a chance.
He looked annoyed with himself, but didn’t let it affect him. At the next opportunity he showed his composure and poise inside the box to set up Liverpool’s fifth goal.
Jones showed he is ready to make a contribution at the top level, and step up from the under-23s.
Liverpool should really have given him a start, and he certainly made Jurgen Klopp’s decision look like a strange one.
Perhaps there was some method to it. Did Klopp want to motivate Jones further by leaving him out? Did he want to calm his nerves after the build up to the game?
Or was a it purely tactical? Whichever the reason, Jones proved he deserves to start the quarter-final, if Liverpool can agree a date to play it.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
