Report: Liverpool rejected ‘really special’ player’s half-time request, Klopp ordered it

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Curtis Jones had a request while playing for Liverpool U21s on Sunday. The Reds rejected it, however, with Jurgen Klopp making up his mind.

This comes from the Athletic. They claim that Curtis Jones requested to play the second half for Liverpool against Tottenham Hotspur U21s on Sunday.

The Reds were down to 10 men at the time, with Jones a surprise starter. However, the plan was for him to get 45 minutes and no more – and Liverpool stuck with that decision.

Jurgen Klopp, who was at the game for Jones, left at half-time. He’d also discussed the plan with Barry Lewtas before kick-off, making sure the 21-year-old didn’t play the entire game.

Thus Jones didn’t get his wish. He went off and Liverpool would lose the game 2-0 after Calvin Ramsay’s red card.

Curtis Jones for Liverpool U21s

It’s pretty easy to understand why Liverpool rejected the request. Klopp clearly sees Jones as potentially playing a key role over the next few weeks as the Reds struggle in midfield. Even if he’s just coming off the bench, we expect to see him.

And for what it’s worth, Jones got nothing but plaudits from Lewtas for asking to play longer. That clearly left an impression.

“Curtis is a great character, a really special character as a person,” said Lewtas, per the Liverpool Echo. “For someone like him, he’s been through this journey. When he comes down, he does it properly.

“He has a responsibility to be the senior professional and show how things are done. He was gutted to come off – he knew he was coming off on 45 but because we went down to 10, he said he wanted to stay on for longer and help the team.

“That’s how he is really.”

Jones has been incredibly unfortunate with injuries over the last few years. Every time he gets some momentum going, something pulls him out of the squad for the next few weeks. Sometimes it’s as improbable as an eye-poke that leaves him on the sidelines.

Hopefully, then, he can finally get some consistency in his game. Jones is 21 now but hasn’t had anywhere near the amount of football he should have by now. It’s left him a little stunted with his growth – and he just needs more fortune with injuries to fix that.