Liverpool breezed past West Ham in the League Cup last night with a 5-1 win at Anfield, with Curtis Jones back in the starting XI.
The 23-year-old midfielder made his first start of the season having featured for the Reds in the last two Premier League games from the bench, with Jones having a difficult start under new manager Arne Slot due to injury.
Despite the limited playing time this season, Jones impressed at Anfield last night as the England youth international picked up an assist as Liverpool steamrolled past a ten-man West Ham side with complete ease on Merseyside.
And Jones has now shared why he was playing with a smile on his face last night for the Reds.
Jones happy to be playing again for Liverpool after injury absence
Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Jones shared how happy he was to be back playing having spent some time out injured, with the Liverpool academy graduate looking at ease in the midfield alongside Wataru Endo against the Irons.
Jones said when asked about how relieved he feels to be back playing for Liverpool against West Ham: “I just want to play. It’s been hard, I’ve had an injury and stuff but now I’m back and playing games with a smile on my face.”
With Jones and Diogo Jota in good spirits after the match, the midfielder finding his passion again for Liverpool could be huge heading into the busy fixture schedule this season, where every first-team player will be key for Slot.
And given how much Jones seems to improve every season for Liverpool, the midfielder regaining his spark could go a long way in the Reds having an incredibly successful first year with Slot at the wheel, where reclaiming the League Cup would be huge.
Jones could have a big role to play for Liverpool this season
Jones’ versatility in the midfield makes the 23-year-old a unique player for Liverpool, with the England youth international capable of playing almost anywhere in any role if needed by Slot.
And this could lead to Jones becoming an important player under the Dutch coach if something were to happen to Alexis Mac Allister of Ryan Gravenberch, with Jones the first port of call for any midfield issues Liverpool might encounter.
The 23-year-old is now fully fit and showed against West Ham he can be a top player for Liverpool again this season, and Jones will want to prove his worth to Slot having regained his smile on the pitch.
