Neil Critchley Praises Liverpool U23 Hat Trick Hero Curtis Jones

If Curtis Jones does not make any additional first team appearances this year, he’s already had a stellar campaign. He scored the winning penalty against Arsenal in the League Cup. He scored an absolute worldie to beat Everton’s first team in the FA Cup. And he’s even made the bench a handful of times.

Of course he wants more. And he’s becoming harder to ignore, especially after his hat trick against Sunderland in the Premier League Cup for the U23s this week.

Youth team manger Neil Critchley was full of praise for the young Scouser.

“The longer the game goes on I would have been surprised if Curtis hadn’t have scored,” Critchley explained. “They were top goals as well, the left foot one, he can really hit it and connect off his left foot – it was a great strike.

“Then we had the right foot one when he cut inside and found the corner of the net. Right from the kick-off it was a fantastic bit of play from Liam, and Curtis has got the energy to keep running into the box and score. Three really top goals.

“He is [making big strides]. Curtis has been a consistent top performer for us this season and I suppose the test for him now and the test for us is to keep driving the standard for him and not to settle for what he’s got.

“I know he won’t be and he will be looking for more. He has had a taste of it and he wants more of that. Curtis knows he has to keep performing if he wants more chances at senior level but I’m sure that will come at some point.”

If nothing else, Jones should be in with a shout for contention against Chelsea in the upcoming FA Cup 5th round fixture. His performances throughout the season have shown that he doesn’t shirk responsibility.

Then again, as Liverpool get closer to the pointy end of the competition, Jurgen Klopp might be tempted to go with more senior players. Whatever the manager decides, Jones continues making statements with first and youth teams, which can only bode well for the youngster’s future at the club.