{"id":1178698,"date":"2020-12-01T22:11:39","date_gmt":"2020-12-01T22:11:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1178698"},"modified":"2020-12-01T22:11:39","modified_gmt":"2020-12-01T22:11:39","slug":"liverpool-1-0-ajax-match-analysis-klopps-kids-curtis-jones-caoimhin-kelleher","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/liverpool-1-0-ajax-match-analysis-klopps-kids-curtis-jones-caoimhin-kelleher\/","title":{"rendered":"Klopp’s kids save the day as Liverpool secure Champions League progression by beating Ajax 1-0"},"content":{"rendered":"

In an open game of football, Liverpool beat Ajax 1-0 at Anfield to win their Champions League group.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Reds went toe-to-toe against Ajax at Anfield in an even and open contest. The Dutch side had more of the play, Liverpool had more of the chances. It was just a fun open game that was ironically settled by one moment of madness from Andre Onana.<\/p>\n

However even though Onana’s mistake was the reason for Liverpool winning, it was the identity of the goalscorer that, in many ways, summed up the game: Curtis Jones. The teenage midfielder who has already scored a Merseyside Derby winner and is currently wearing Steven Gerrard’s old no. 17.<\/p>\n

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Jones is a local lad and he plays like it, full of bubbling passion and boundless ambition. You get the impression that he’d run all day for the club if asked to, but what he adds is something that no other Liverpool midfielder can really say: a goal threat.<\/p>\n

Jones is just constantly on the verge of scoring. In many ways he’s much more like Frank Lampard, an intelligent and hard-working midfielder with a sharp eye for goal, than Steven Gerrard, a physical bull of a player who could do literally anything if he put his mind to it.<\/p>\n

The only reason he scored the goal, the only reason Onana’s mistake was punished, was because Jones was making a follow-up run. He was darting in behind the defence, anticipating a mistake from the goalkeeper much like good strikers do. And he was rewarded with a goal.<\/p>\n

If it sounds like the finish was routine, it was anything but. Jones’ shooting skill has been on display since the start of the year in the Merseyside Derby, and it was on full display here. Raising his right boot he flicked the ball gently towards goal with the outside of his right-boot. It seemed simple, it was not. An astounding bit of technique and a superb goal.<\/p>\n

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Curtis Jones' game by numbers against Ajax:<\/p>\n

Most shots (4)
Joint-most aerial duels (5)
Joint-most take-ons completed (2)
Most shots on target (2)<\/p>\n

Capped off with his first #UCL<\/a> goal. pic.twitter.com\/XtLlVQ5p1s<\/a><\/p>\n

— Squawka (@Squawka) December 1, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n