'The performance we've been waiting for' - how Jones capped his perfect week

What a week it has been for Curtis Jones, to people a winning extremity astatine Anfield a fewer days aft becoming a dad.

It is the benignant of happening helium volition person dreamed astir the nighttime earlier the game, and helium did his caller girl arrogant with his full show against Chelsea, due to the fact that it truly was that complete.

Liverpool's full midfield played good successful Sunday’s 2-1 win but Jones was the prima of the amusement and I americium truly pleased for him. He is simply a section lad who has had a fewer wounded problems and has had to beryllium diligent to get his chance.

His quality has ne'er been successful question, due to the fact that technically helium has ever been precise bully and idiosyncratic who is comfy receiving the shot successful choky areas. As good arsenic that, helium has ever worked precise hard without it too.

In that way, Jones is precise overmuch the modern midfielder, but the lone things that person been missing up until present are goals and assists.

His debased numbers for some are sometimes utilized against him, particularly aft the mode helium arrived connected the country arsenic an 18-year-old with a stunning victor against Everton successful the FA Cup successful 2020.

So, I was delighted to spot him getting guardant truthful overmuch against Chelsea and, arsenic good arsenic his goal, helium got successful immoderate fantastic positions to triumph some penalties - the 1 which was given, and the 1 that was overturned.

He was successful the Chelsea country a lot, and I’d enactment that down to a substance of things - evidently the manager has fixed him the state to bash it, but helium besides has the assurance and content successful himself to marque those runs, and the carnal fittingness to support doing it.

Jones did not neglect his antiaircraft duties either, but I deliberation astir radical who person seen him travel done the ranks astatine Liverpool person been waiting for this benignant of level from him, connected the attacking broadside of things.

We ever knew helium was susceptible from the glimpses helium has shown successful the past, but this was the time erstwhile it each came together. He indispensable beryllium connected unreality nine.

I ticker Liverpool a batch and I cannot deliberation of a crippled wherever Jones has played better.

He has fixed Arne Slot a existent problem, but it is 1 the Liverpool manager volition invited with the magnitude of immense games his broadside person coming up.

Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai person been Slot’s midfield trio successful the biggest games truthful acold this play but Liverpool's fixture schedule, including important Champions League matches, is beauteous overmuch non-stop for the adjacent fewer weeks.

It makes your occupation a batch easier arsenic a manager erstwhile you don't truly cognize who to pick. There volition beryllium a batch of Liverpool fans saying Jones has got to commencement adjacent play against Arsenal.

How bash you permission him retired astatine the Emirates aft the mode helium played connected Sunday? You can't, and hopefully this is conscionable the commencement of truthful overmuch much to travel from him - particularly successful beforehand of goal.

There is tons to similar astir Liverpool's full midfield astatine the moment, and for maine Gravenberch has been their champion subordinate each season, arsenic good arsenic the biggest astonishment - and each due to the fact that of a small tweak successful his position.

His performances person been incredible, really, considering the interest determination was earlier a shot was kicked erstwhile antiaircraft midfielder Martin Zubimendi did not sign from Real Sociedad.

That has been a blessing successful disguise, due to the fact that Gravenberch has been a revelation successful that role. Again, that’s down to the assurance and content helium has been fixed by Slot, and the state to inactive beryllium himself.

Gravenberch does not conscionable beryllium successful and enactment deep. Instead, helium glides past radical and gets into bully attacking areas arsenic good arsenic doing his antiaircraft work.

He has been truthful good, helium has been similar a caller signing, and I americium not amazed the fans person taken to him, with his fantastic athleticism and dribbling ability. The mode helium turns distant from players is simply a joyousness to watch.

There were different pluses for Liverpool against Chelsea, too. Let's anticipation Diogo Jota is not severely injured aft helium was forced to travel off, but Darwin Nunez was fantabulous erstwhile helium replaced him aft fractional an hour.

Nunez did not get a scoring accidental but helium brought others into play and was progressive successful each the bully things Liverpool did aft helium came disconnected the bench.

Overall, Slot’s broadside were not astatine their best, but I would enactment that astatine slightest partially down to the effects of the planetary break.

Liverpool were a spot level successful the aforesaid circumstances successful September, erstwhile they mislaid to Nottingham Forest – and they and Chelsea were some a spot level connected Sunday too.

This time, though, Liverpool got implicit the enactment and I thought they managed the crippled truly good erstwhile they went 2-1 up, and had the subject to spot it retired without excessively galore scares.

The instrumentality to winning the league is to triumph games erstwhile you don't play good and though it is acold excessively aboriginal to speech astir Liverpool becoming champions, they are apical of the array close present and person plentifulness to beryllium pleased about.

Danny Murphy was speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan.