Report as 18-year-old Jones seals FA Cup third-round victory for much-changed Liverpool; wasteful Everton pass up chance to end Anfield hoodoo
Monday 6 January 2020 06:00, UK
Curtis Jones' thunderbolt inflicted one of Everton's most humiliating derby defeats as a youthful Liverpool progressed to the fourth round of the FA Cup with a 1-0 victory at Anfield.
Eighteen-year-old Jones settled the third-round tie in Liverpool's favour on 71 minutes with a sensational whipped strike that cannoned in off the underside of the Everton crossbar.
A near first-choice Everton looked set to capitalise on Jurgen Klopp's nine pre-match changes as they peppered the Liverpool goal and forced three quality saves from goalkeeper Adrian in a dominant first-half display.
But Jones' stunning first goal in senior football saw Liverpool punish their wastefulness as Everton's wait for a first Anfield win since 1999 stooped to an agonising new low.
Liverpool's congested festive schedule left Klopp with no option but to shuffle his pack and he fielded an experimental Reds team that featured three teenagers in a Merseyside derby starting line-up for the first time since 2012.
Everton, meanwhile, were at near full strength and it showed as they created the best chances in a dominant first-half attacking display.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin drew Adrian into a save with his legs inside six minutes, an attack which forced James Milner off injured and left Joe Gomez as the only senior Liverpool defender on the field, and the Everton chances kept on coming.
Mason Holgate headed a glorious chance straight at Adrian from Gylfi Sigurdsson's inch-perfect free-kick on 12 minutes and the Liverpool goalkeeper was up to a hat-trick of saves before the half-hour mark as Richarlison was denied as he tried to convert Theo Walcott's cutback.
There was time for Calvert-Lewin to spurn another chance, mistiming a diving header, before Liverpool finally registered their first attempt on goal.
January signing Takumi Minamino could have endeared himself to the Anfield faithful with a debut goal, but he failed to connect with a header after Divock Origi's sumptuous cross reached the Japan international unmarked in the six-yard box.
Origi drew a stunning fingertip save out of Jordan Pickford just before half-time and that marked a shift in momentum. The Reds re-emerged from the interval and dominated possession with a performance akin to the first-choice side that have raced clear at the top of the Premier League.
The introduction and deployment of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain into central midfield on 70 relieved Jones of his defensive responsibilities - and within a minute of venturing forward, the youngster settled the tie in the most spectacular fashion.
After a neat interchange with Origi, Jones unleashed a stunning curled shot that sailed over Pickford before crashing down off the underside bar, sparking jubilant scenes inside Anfield and inflicting a crushing blow from which Everton could not recover.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp: "It was a bit wild in the first half, but football wise a lot of moments brilliant; defensive wise, in organisation and pressing was absolutely sensational. We scored the goal and then we controlled the game. I liked it, I liked each individual performance, the boys were outstanding.
"It was a sensational goal [from Curtis], it was exceptional, the boy is an outstanding player. I cannot understand why people are not talking about Pedro Chirivella, Yasser Larouci and Neco Williams. Do they all have to score a goal to be talked about?"
Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti: "The line-up of Liverpool didn't affect our idea of how to play; we knew that Liverpool put in fresh players and that the intensity could be a high intensity, so I think the defeat arrived because we were not able to keep the intensity in the second half. We lost energy, we lost confidence, we were not able to build up quick from the back."
Sky Sports' Adam Bate:
'Minamino looked lively in the early stages and certainly looks well-suited to playing the pressing game that Klopp favours. He will no doubt prove an important option in attack as the fixtures continue to pile up.
'But the new man did fade after the break and perhaps that is to be expected given that this was his first appearance in almost four weeks - since starring against Liverpool for his old club, red Bull Salzburg.
'Not a stellar individual debut then. But a role in an FA Cup victory over Everton is not a bad way to start. Takumi Minamino will hope there are many more great Anfield nights to come.'
Liverpool travel to Tottenham on Saturday Night Football at 5.30pm, live on Sky Sports Premier League from 5pm. Everton, meanwhile, host Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday at 3pm.
