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We all know that Jürgen Klopp has a tendency to rotate his team when it comes to domestic cup competitions, and the prospect can terrify the life out of Liverpool fans.
While the first team has shown the capability and consistency to blow away their opponents on a regular basis, the Reds’ backup brigade has often struggled to do the same. However, improved squad depth and an increased focus on youth development have meant that Liverpool’s second team can be a similarly daunting opponent against even the best teams.
The Reds smashed Lincoln City in their third-round Carabao Cup tie, racing into a 4-0 lead before the half-time whistle. Klopp’s side weren’t done there, however, as they continued in the same vein of form as they did in the first half, ending up as 7-2 victors.
Perhaps this wasn’t overly surprising. For all their qualities, Lincoln are still a League One side, and facing the Premier League champions was always going to be an incredibly tough challenge. The Imps are a side that thrive off the intense atmosphere generated by the fans, and had supporters been allowed to attend the game, we may have seen a different performance from Michael Appleton’s side.
As assistant manager Pep Lijnders promised, Liverpool did end up putting out a surprisingly strong side for their visit to the LNER Stadium. Virgil van Dijk was picked to start amidst the Reds’ defensive crisis, while the likes Kostas Tsimikas, Xherdan Shaqiri, Takumi Minamino and Divock Origi were all given an opportunity against the Imps.
However, it was 19-year-old Curtis Jones who really stood out from the rest. The midfielder has found first-team appearances hard to come by, often coming on late in games or relying on cup games to play with the first team. But his showing against the Imps may make Jürgen Klopp consider giving the youngster more opportunities.
The young midfielder opened his account for the season just after 30 minutes into the game, receiving the ball off Divock Origi, dragging the ball away from the Lincoln defenders and firing a curving shot past Alex Palmer to make it 3-0.
But he wasn’t done showcasing his attacking prowess just yet. Pirouetting past Jorge Grant, his effort from outside the box deflected off TJ Eyoma before looping over the head of the Lincoln goalkeeper.
Outside of his brace, Curtis Jones’ overall performance against Lincoln was a sign of the midfielder’s confidence both out of possession and going forward. His eye to pick a pass often sliced open the Imps’ defence, but he looked confident and organised when the League One outfit looked to hit the Reds on the counter.
There’s no reason why Curtis Jones can’t reach the same levels of fellow academy graduate Trent Alexander-Arnold, who’s widely regarded as one of the best right-backs in the world. However, in order for that to happen, he has to be given the same opportunities to prove and establish himself as a regular member of the first team.
Alexander-Arnold’s first opportunity in the Liverpool team came through an injury to Nathaniel Clyne. His stunning performances in the Champions League earned him a regular place in the team in 2017/18, and despite some shaky performances against Crystal Palace and Manchester United, Klopp’s faith in him has undoubtedly paid off. Curtis Jones needs the same chances if he’s to prove himself at the top level.
Of course, Liverpool boast a wealth of talent in midfield, further boosted by the arrival of Thiago Alcantara this summer. The Reds now have eight first team midfield options, with only three spots available in Klopp’s starting lineup. Nonetheless, now is the chance for Liverpool to take a chance with Curtis Jones and give him greater opportunities in the Premier League.
The Reds’ victory means that they face a visit from FA Cup winners Arsenal on Thursday in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup, just four days after their league clash against the Gunners. Some of the star performers from the win at the LNER Stadium might have earned themselves an opportunity in one of the two games next week, including Curtis Jones.
The Imps now turn their attention to their league campaign, as they prepare for the visit of Charlton Athletic on Sunday afternoon. Despite coming out on the wrong end of a thrashing at the LNER Stadium against the Premier League champions, the Imps’ league form has shown that they have more than enough quality in the squad to keep their run going and push for a promotion spot from League One this season.
