Liverpool starlet Curtis Jones admits scoring the winning penalty against Arsenal was a “dream come true”.
The Reds youngster settled a thrilling contest to see Jurgen Klopp’s side through to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday night.
And the 18-year-old claims he was calm in the moment when the opportunity fell his way.
“Being a local lad it’s always been my dream to get an appearance at Anfield. To get an assist to give us a chance and then to score a penalty is just a dream come true,” Jones said.
“I was calm, I picked my spot and I was fortunate enough that the winning penalty went in. The team played great, they showed character and belief. The fans were unbelievable too, they helped us through the game and we’re glad we paid them back.
1/23 Liverpool vs Arsenal player ratings – Carabao Cup
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2/23 Caoimhin Kelleher 8
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3/23 Neco Williams 5
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4/23 Joe Gomez 5
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5/23 Sepp van den Berg 5
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6/23 James Milner 5
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7/23 Adam Lallana 6
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8/23 Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain 6
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9/23 Naby Keita 5
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10/23 Rhian Brewster 6
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11/23 Harvey Elliott 6
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12/23 Divock Origi 6
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13/23 Emiliano Martinez 5
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14/23 Hector Bellerin 6
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15/23 Rob Holding 5
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16/23 Shkodran Mustafi 5
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17/23 Sead Kolasinac 5
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18/23 Joe Willock 6
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19/23 Lucas Torreira 6
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20/23 Mesut Ozil 7
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21/23 Bukayo Saka 8
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22/23 Ainsley Maitland-Niles 7
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23/23 Gabriel Martinelli 8
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1/23 Liverpool vs Arsenal player ratings – Carabao Cup
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2/23 Caoimhin Kelleher 8
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3/23 Neco Williams 5
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4/23 Joe Gomez 5
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5/23 Sepp van den Berg 5
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6/23 James Milner 5
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7/23 Adam Lallana 6
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8/23 Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain 6
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9/23 Naby Keita 5
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10/23 Rhian Brewster 6
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11/23 Harvey Elliott 6
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12/23 Divock Origi 6
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13/23 Emiliano Martinez 5
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14/23 Hector Bellerin 6
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15/23 Rob Holding 5
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16/23 Shkodran Mustafi 5
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17/23 Sead Kolasinac 5
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18/23 Joe Willock 6
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19/23 Lucas Torreira 6
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20/23 Mesut Ozil 7
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21/23 Bukayo Saka 8
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22/23 Ainsley Maitland-Niles 7
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23/23 Gabriel Martinelli 8
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“We knew regardless of the Arsenal team it was going to be a tough game. We knew we could match them and that’s what we did tonight.
“This is just the beginning, I’m just a young lad and I’ve still got a long way to go. Any opportunities I’ll take with both hands.”
And Klopp has admitted it was not his decision for Jones to take the final penalty.
“It was not my decision in the end for him [Jones] to take the last penalty,” Klopp said.
“When I saw the list Origi was the taker of the last one and they changed it obviously.
“If you don’t win nobody remembers it in three years, if it works out the boys will remember it forever.”
The night saw both teams’ defensive deficiencies exposed, and while Klopp admitted that mistakes had been made he was grateful that his side ended on the winning side on another memorable night at Anfield.
“We made some mistakes, we played some average passes. We were too open at times.
“We can talk about tactics but who cares on a night like this? I hoped for the boys they would have a game to remember.
“What they did tonight, I lost it really. It’s like a dream to play for the first time at Anfield, but things might not be going right and you have to stay on track. All our goals we scored were wonderful.
“Kelleher is an outstanding talent. The crossing from Williams, he might not have thought he would play tonight.”
