Jack Grealish showed Newcastle what happens when they criticize Liverpool players
Newcastle United striker Callum Wilson’s recent comments on Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones could have him on his mind again
“What is Curtis Jones doing too?! He doesn’t even score goals!
Newcastle United striker Callum Wilson couldn’t hide his shock and dismay at the identity of Liverpool’s two-time goalscorer as the Reds triumphed 3-0 at Leicester City on Monday night.
The result put Jurgen Klopp’s side, currently fifth in the Premier League table, a point ahead of the Magpies and Manchester United. With both sides a game behind against Liverpool, the Reds have at least kept the pressure on in the race for Champions League qualification.
Wilson was recording the latest edition of The Footballer’s football podcast with West Ham United’s Michail Antonio when he realized Liverpool were on the verge of a seventh successive victory.
“Ahh Liverpool were leading 2-0, I don’t want to hear that now man!” shouted a horrified Wilson. ‘Come on, I want them to lose!
“Oh my God! What’s Curtis Jones even doing?! He doesn’t even score goals! He scores two. Curtis Jones, two of all?! He hits them and all!
Jones’ sudden emergence as a key part of Klopp’s Liverpool in their new ‘3-2-2-3’ formation has created a stir at Anfield in recent weeks. In a season marred by injury, in which many spectators had ruled out the 22-year-old ahead of a Reds midfield revamp this summer, he emphatically silenced doubters about him.
The England Under-21 international, who made only his second Premier League start against Chelsea last month, has started all nine games unbeaten by Liverpool to revive his top four hopes. Meanwhile, his brace against Leicester means he has three goals and one assist from such a run. Not bad for a player who “doesn’t even score goals”.
Of course, you can see where Wilson’s outburst is coming from. Before Jones opened the scoring against Tottenham Hotspur last month, he had not scored for 582 days since a 3-3 draw with Brentford in September 2021.
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Nonetheless, he only made 40 appearances in that dry 19-month stretch, 24 of them in the starting XI. While not a particularly exciting record, it’s not as bad as it looks on paper. Jones has made 95 appearances for the Reds since making his Liverpool debut in January 2019, scoring 11 goals and registering 10 assists. A goal contribution every 4.5 games is quite respectable for any young midfielder.
But breaking the 22-year-old’s record in individual starts ridicules Wilson’s claim. Jones has 10 goals and seven assists in 58 starts – meaning he’s scoring every 5.8 starts and contributing a goal every 3.4 starts. While Liverpool have often lacked an attacking midfield threat under Klopp’s reign, the 22-year-old is showing he is capable of changing that narrative. Indeed, that should come as no surprise to anyone who has seen Jones progress through the academy, often ending up in the top three rather than his now customary midfield role.
Breaking into the Liverpool Under-18s side in 2016/17, when just 15 years old, he would return four goals and an assist from 12 appearances. Then establishing himself as a key player under Steven Gerrard in 2017/18, he recorded 16 goals and six assists from 25 appearances for the Under-18s and Under-19s in the UEFA Youth League.
Such form would see him called up to the Under-21s on occasions in the second half of the season at the age of 17, before he cemented his place with the age-group in 2018/19 – the same season he made his senior debut.
Recording seven goals and two assists from 19 games in Premier League 2 and UEFA Youth League, he would then boast 14 goals and six assists from 18 appearances in the same competitions in 2019/20. No wonder the same campaign saw him become a first team player under Klopp.
His record in PL2 and UEFA Youth League combined, discounting one appearance back in January when feeling his way back from injury, stands at 26 goals and nine assists from 50 appearances. Curtis Jones has always been a player who scores goals.
And now he could be the same player that makes Wilson eat his words if he maintains such form in the final weeks of the season and helps Liverpool qualify for the Champions League at Newcastle’s expense. Even in the Reds’ fall short, given a top four finish admittedly still looks unlikely, you wouldn’t bet against him remaining a crucial member of Klopp’s side next season post-midfield revamp.
Wilson should know better than most the perils that could come with dismissing the midfielder’s abilities. After all, it was less than a year ago when Man City’s Jack Grealish infamously belittled one of the Magpies’ striker’s team-mates.
Drunkenly celebrating City’s Premier League title-win, the England international joked that it was only possible after Pep Guardiola had withdrawn Riyad Mahrez, as his side fought back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 and clinch the title.
“Riyad, take him off the pitch, as soon as possible!” Grealish teased. “He played like Almiron.”
At the time, the Paraguay international was something of a flop at St. James’ Park having joined Newcastle from Atlanta United in a £21m deal in January 2019. He would only score one goal and fail to register an assist during the 2021/22 season as he started just 19 of his 32 appearances for the Magpies.
The worst return of his Newcastle career, he had at least been a regular starter over the previous two and a half years as he returned a combined 13 goals and five assists from 91 appearances in all competitions. As a result, with the Magpies backed by Saudi billions, Almiron’s future with the club was in doubt last summer as Grealish’s drunken comment seen as, at best, an unnecessary jibe aimed at a fellow professional.
So 14 goals and five assists from 123 appearances over three and a half seasons. ‘Almiron?! Out of everyone?! He doesn’t even score goals!’
Yet it’s been a very different story for the forward this year, with the 29-year-old emerging as one of Newcastle’s players of the season.
Boasting 11 goals and an assist from 31 Premier League appearances, he also set up a further two goals in the Magpies’ run to the League Cup final. Meanwhile, only Wilson has outscored the Paraguayan at St. James’ Park.
His Premier League goal involvements have been crucial this season too, worth 11 points to Newcastle’s cause. Scoring nine times during a 17-game unbeaten run, as well as seven goals and an assist from eight appearances immediately prior to the World Cup, without Almiron’s efforts the Magpies aren’t in Champions League contention.
Asked about Almiron’s response to Grealish’s jibe last October, Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe said: “I don’t think Miggy is motivated by anything other than trying to be his best for Newcastle and for the supporters, who absolutely love him and rightly so.
“For me, he’s given me everything from day one, very committed to the team. He’s a real team player and he’s getting the recognition that he deserves. You can’t under-estimate the quality of the goals that he’s delivered for us.
“I don’t think I’ve noticed a difference in his character. He’s been very consistent – that’s a strength – he’s been very happy every day, very pleased to be part of the team, has very close friends within the squad.
“What I have noticed is a real confidence in his training, in his technical delivery of what we’re asking him to do – I think that’s definitely gone up a level.”
For the record, Grealish would apologise from his comments about the Paraguayan. While ill-advised, there was no malice intended.
The same as Wilson will have meant no offence to Jones. Yet the Newcastle’s man naive comments lack wisdom and are also ill-educated, given Jones’ actual overall record.
And having witnessed first-hand the transformation in Almiron this year, with the Magpies’ dressing room inevitably discussing Grealish’s dismissal at some point or another, he should be wary of what could come next.
Jones is a player on the rise and has certainly gone up a level in recent weeks. Playing with a new-found confidence, there is no stopping him on the pitch at the moment.
Klopp could just send him out and watch him go, with the 22-year-old not even needing the extra fire that Wilson could have just provided. But if the German wanted to motivate his in-form midfielder further, the England international has done his talking for him and delivered perfect ‘team talk’.
And while that is great news for Liverpool, Wilson and his big mouth will be hoping that the Magpies aren’t made to suffer as a result.
At least Grealish had the excuse of alcohol, while celebrating winning the Premier League, when besmirching a struggling colleague. In contrast, as the Newcastle frontman ‘disrespects’ the wrong target, Howe’s side haven’t achieved anything yet.
Having poked the bear, only time will tell if Wilson is made to eat his words.