To say it was a season of two halves for Curtis Jones could be placing it evenly, however when he seems to be again at his profession he may nicely view the house stretch of 2022/23 as a defining second.
The marketing campaign started with a borderline do-or-die narrative connected and ended with the academy graduate changing into one of many first names on the group sheet.
Again in July, Jones advised LFCTV of his ambitions for the brand new season and his intention of reaching “10 targets and 10 assists” for the Reds.
In the event you had been to have assessed the progress in January, you’d have been forgiven for asking what planet these targets had been written on.
No Liverpool midfielder has hit double figures since Philippe Coutinho in 2017/18 and even he spent parts of that marketing campaign enjoying as a part of a entrance three.
But within the fullness of time, Jones has proven precisely what he’s able to and had he been concerned from the outset these figures won’t have been so farfetched.
Curtis Jones, 2022/23
Began: 13 (All competitions)On in its place: 10Unused sub: 7Goals: 3Assists: 1
General Season Score: 6.75
Damage threats
There has by no means been a lot to dispute with regards to Jones’ expertise, however as with quite a few Liverpool’s midfielders this season, health has been a stumbling block all through.
His lack of availability brought about many to lose persistence and in some quarters he was dismissed as somebody who was destined for the exit door come the summer time.
A stress response of the tibia bone derailed the teenager’s marketing campaign earlier than it received shifting after a uncommon eye damage brought about him to overlook giant components of the Reds’ quadruple chase in 2021/22.
It raised inevitable questions on whether or not this was a participant we may really depend on long-term.
In actuality, these are the one two main health hurdles Jones has confronted. He doesn’t have a historical past of niggles or muscle points and his greatest years stay comfortably forward of him.
The stress response was one thing the membership’s medical workers had “by no means seen earlier than” nevertheless it was sufficient to maintain Jones away from the motion within the early phases of the season – 11 of the primary 13 video games, to be exact.
When Jurgen Klopp gave his No. 17 an prolonged alternative to nail down a spot within the aspect, he grabbed it with each fingers after which some.
No indicators of stage fright
Jones had solely made one league begin previous to being named within the group to face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in April, however since then he has by no means seemed again.
He made the slot on the left of Liverpool’s midfield three his personal and registered 11 consecutive Premier League begins to shut out the marketing campaign.
Accidents, depth and a scarcity of impetus from the Reds’ midfield opened the door for Jones and with the continued issues across the age of the present crop he grew to become a welcome breath of contemporary air.
It additionally got here at a time when the aspect’s fortunes started to vary, with Trent Alexander-Arnold being afforded larger inventive affect in the midst of the park as he took up a hybrid function.
Klopp wanted to vary one thing and it labored, with Jones one of many main beneficiaries as he flourished in a new-look system which noticed Liverpool put collectively seven successive wins.
He has at all times been succesful, however for the primary time in his profession, the 22-year-old seemed fully at residence as he grew to become an integral a part of the Reds’ late surge.
After such a promising run, consideration naturally turns to what subsequent season will seem like for the centre-midfielder.
Deliver on the competitors
Speak of an inevitable rebuild of the midfield this summer time is endless, however the place does that go away the Scouser?
The “like a brand new signing” cliche is an usually misused phrase which boils the blood of many supporters, however had Jones arrived for £40 million and put within the efficiency he did away at Leicester we might rightly be lauding the large expertise on our fingers.
Nothing should have modified from Liverpool’s perspective available in the market, nevertheless.
There’s nonetheless loads to be accomplished and the uninspiring displaying at residence to Aston Villa in some methods provided a well timed reminder of that.
However Jones’ dash to the road has positioned him able the place, ought to Liverpool signal two and even three high-profile midfielders, it could be inside his rights to query any choice which sees him dropped.
His homegrown standing is a useful asset given he has now reached the age at which he’ll have to be ‘registered’ throughout the enjoying squad.
With Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner having departed, Jones is a ready-made alternative to fill a type of vacated homegrown slots and add beneficial midfield depth.
It’s secure to say he gained’t be going wherever any time quickly, one thing which you could possibly not have mentioned with such certainty six months in the past.
He undoubtedly doesn’t lack the arrogance to combine it with any potential big-money recruits and can virtually actually not let the contemporary competitors unsettle him.
Having thrown his hat into the ring with current performances, 2023/24 could possibly be his largest season but.
Greatest second: A quickfire brace away at Leicester throughout a purple patch of type.
Worst second: A disappointing displaying through the poor 1-0 away defeat to Nottingham Forest.
Function subsequent season: Offering stiff competitors to the brand new signings for a starting-berth within the midfield.
