Liverpool seem to be rounding into some semblance of form based on recent performances, with a solid 3-0 win over Brighton on Saturday in the FA Cup the latest positive showing. While Arne Slot rolled out a strong side for the cup match, Curtis Jones was given a chance to step in at right back for the match with Joe Gomez still working back to fitness and Dominik Szoboszlai preferred in midfield. Jones put together a strong performance, showcasing his press resistance and popping up with a late run
in the box to score the opening goal of the match.
After the match, Jones reiterated his willingness to play anywhere on the pitch to help his side. Being able to contribute with a goal was icing on the cake.
“I say it all the time: I’m a footballer. Yeah, I’m a center midfielder and I want to score goals and I want to assist and I want to help the team. But if the manager needs me in the team and needs me to go and play as a center-half, a full-back, a striker, I’ll go and do it and I’ll try my best. Today I was in there as a full-back and obviously I’ve scored and helped the team, so I’m happy.”
Jones felt the overall performance on the night was quite a good one. To him, it’s the progression of the squad starting to click.
“I thought it was a good game. We scored three very good goals and a clean sheet as well, that’s all you can ask for. I think that we’ve clicked for a while.
It’s a season that has obviously not been as good as we would like it to be. But that’s part of the game, as I always say as well. You can’t expect to go into every game and just win. Teams are improving. We’ve improved. We’ve had lads that have joined, we’ve had lads that have left. It has obviously taken time but I think the team has gelled and the important thing is that off the pitch there is a good bond there as well.
I think the lads will say that they’ve come into a team that has welcomed them in as if they’ve been there for their whole life. It has obviously taken time [for example] for Flo [Wirtz] to score more goals, but he has obviously played great games. As he has found his feet, he is a massive help now. Hugo [Ekitike] and the rest of the lads are obviously there helping us out. It’s a matter of time before we kick on and we’re playing like the champions again.“
With the win, Liverpool are now on to the quarterfinals of the FA Cup. Despite a frustrating season, the Reds are still legitimately in the hunt for both a domestic trophy as well as European glory despite being out of the Premier League title race. Jones said they squad are taking things match by match and not trying to get ahead of themselves in those competitions.
“I want to win everything. I obviously play as a fan as well and I know what the fans expect. On top of being a fan, I obviously know what it’s like to play for a team like this – you have to win things, whether that’s the Champions League or the Premier League. If you don’t win them, which are the main two, then there’s another two we can go and win.
We’re obviously in the Champions League still and the FA Cup as well, a big cup in England. It would obviously be great if we could come away with those two. But there’s still plenty of games to play so we’re taking each game as it comes. Hopefully at the end of the year we come away with the Champions League and FA Cup.“
