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Curtis Jones recognized the need to rebuild Jurgen Klopp's trust in him at Chelsea, as he had only started one Premier League game between August and April.
After the goalless draw at Stamford Bridge, Jones openly admitted that his subdued and cautious performance was aimed at boosting his confidence and demonstrating his reliability as a viable option for the team.
Liverpool had only won two of their previous seven games, including a heavy 4-1 defeat to Manchester City, prompting Klopp to make significant changes to the lineup, possibly as a message to some of his underperforming star players. Jones acknowledged that his opportunity came due to the manager's decision to shake things up, and his focus was on taking small steps towards earning more playing time, rather than trying to make a bold statement during the match in London on April 4th.
"I wouldn't really say it was a game where I was able to get on the ball and dribble and shoot really," told the 22-year-old to ECHO after the match. "I thought they had a lot of the ball. It was a game that was more about gaining the manager's trust again. The England Under-21 International hoped that his return would give the manager a "decent little cameo to think about".
After six weeks of excellent pitch performance at his boyhood club Jones might have given more than a little cameo to Klopp. On May 15, the young player opened the score against Leicester City with a brace, marking his ninth successive start in Liverpool.