Liverpool youngster Curtis Jones has spoken of his "perfect" week at the club, with a league title, a new contract, and another senior goal arriving in quick succession.
The 19-year-old tucked away a neat finish in injury time as the Premier League champions beat Aston Villa 2-0 at Anfield yesterday.
It was Jones' third senior goal for the Merseysiders' in ten appearances, and came after he signed a new long-term contract on Saturday.
He has been at the club since under-9 level, and he said after yesterday's game he was overjoyed at how things had been going.
The boys bounced back well after the last game. 3pts and a clean sheet🔥! Buzzing to have grabbed my first premier league goal👌✅ #lfc pic.twitter.com/QPTefgZnyZ
— Curtis Jones (@curtisjr_10) July 5, 2020
"They could call it perfect.
"But, for me, I'm just grateful for the manager and the rest of the staff for having the belief in me and putting me out there when it was only 1-0 and Villa were playing well. I'm grateful for that but it's been a good week.
"He [Klopp] was just saying the usual, he knows that I'm good on the ball but it's about picking the right pass and knowing when to dribble.
"He said the game was a bit Villa were on the attack and then we were on the attack, just to try and get a hold of the game by the scruff of the neck and control the game a bit more.
"That's what I tried to do and hopefully the goal helped."
The number 48 added that he feels this Liverpool team is the best team he has had the pleasure of watching, and is delighted to be involved.
"I think for any young lad that's coming into the team like this, I think you've got to be confident, you've got to be brave and want to get on the ball. That's what I try and do.
"Growing up, I've always watched Liverpool and there's been some great players, including my idol Steven Gerrard and his team that he played in was great.
"But I definitely think that this is the greatest I've watched and I'm grateful to be part of it."
Jurgen Klopp spoke about Jones' display after the game, and said the youngter is just one of the incredible talents that has graduated through the youth ranks.
Sign a new deal on Saturday 🙌
Score your first @premierleague goal on Sunday 🤩
Enjoyed your weekend, @curtisjr_10? 😉 pic.twitter.com/eVsV8h21LG— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 5, 2020
"It’s really hard when you bring on Curtis and then later, only for a minute, Neco and Harvey is sitting there and you think, ‘Wow’ because he is incredible, incredible, in training and is ready as well.
"We take this situation completely serious and that’s why I said when the boys are the right choice in the moment, then they will play – but they will not play because they are young, so maybe that makes it a bit more clear.
"[Curtis] came on, the first situation he had was a shot and then he was involved in a foul, he had pretty much everything apart from a card in a really short period of time!
"Then he scored a goal and a goal he deserves because the cross is coming, it looks like the ball will be too long and then the wind slows the ball down, Mo gets the header and Curtis is there and anticipates really good and can finish it off. That’s quality and I liked that."
Jones made history back in February by becoming Liverpool's youngest ever captain (aged 19 years five days), when he led a youthful team out to beat Shrewsbury Town 1-0 in an FA Cup fourth-round replay.
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