Quincy Charles
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp complimented academy graduate Curtis Jones after his outstanding performance in the 5-1 victory against Porto.
All of Liverpool’s attacking moves revolved around the 20-year-old, and it was his parried shot that set up Mohamed Salah’s game-changing opener.
“Curtis played a good game. He had some problems a little bit with the stomach before the game,” said Klopp.
“They (medical staff) told me I need to keep an eye on him but I told him after the game ‘Whatever it is, keep it’ because it was really a good game.
“He was everywhere, he was involved in everything. Set up the first goal with a surprising finish, goalie cannot save it.
“In a lot of other situations he was really there – maybe not as spectacular as the offensive stuff, but defensively he played a top-class game.
“A lot of things I liked a lot about his performance tonight. So, let’s keep going, Curtis, it was not bad tonight.”
A groin injury kept Trent Alexander-Arnold out of Klopp’s starting lineup for the 3-3 draw with Brentford, so the German just made one change.
“So the situation when you play Saturday and Tuesday, the players who start the game – which Trent obviously did – have on Sunday no training, they have recovery,” said Klopp.
“On Monday, the only session we have together, we pretty much walk through the things.
“We have meetings and on the pitch we just show the difference between the opponents, so there was no intensity really in the session.
“But Trent in the middle of the session felt his adductor and in that area he has now a little injury.
“Obviously when you have something with your muscle, it’s not likely for Sunday – no muscle injury heals that quick.
“After that, it’s internationals. I don’t want to make the decision for him but what I heard, I don’t think it will be possible for him to be with the national team.
“But the other people (England’s medical staff) have to decide that in the end but hopefully after that he will be ready again, but we don’t know exactly.”
“The five goals we conceded are the kind you concede when you are in a relaxed training session and not when you’re playing in the Champions League ” he said.
“Too many mistakes in danger areas. Everything was bad, but the responsibility is mine.”
