Curtis Jones was not supposed to take Liverpool’s winning penalty in their shootout victory over Arsenal on Wednesday evening, according to the Athletic journalist Simon Hughes.
The 18-year-old stepped up to decide the tie with an assured finish after an unforgettable 5-5 draw in normal time.
But according to Hughes, writing for the Athletic, Jurgen Klopp has somebody else in mind for the crucial spot kick.
He said: “Had it been down to Klopp, [Divock] Origi would have been the fifth taker.”
OPINION
Massive kudos to Jones for this one. There aren’t many 18-year-old’s who would have the nerve to step in a penalty shootout in front of the Kop and tuck away a penalty with the confidence and style that he did. Not only that, but after such a hard-fought and pulsating game, the potential for disappointment will have been even higher than normal. But Jones showed that he is mature beyond his years with a fantastic moment that he’ll never forget. With that kind of ice running through his veins, no wonder he jus already drawing comparisons to the likes of James Milner and Adam Lallana, as per The Athletic. If he keeps this up, the lad has a big future ahead of him.
