Liverpool take on Everton this weekend in what is an enormous Merseyside Derby.
The Reds head into the game sitting pretty at the top of the Premier League, with their local rivals fresh off a walloping 4-0 win over Wolves.
With Everton ready to move to their new Bramley Moore Dock stadium next season, Saturday’s meeting will be the final league derby played at Goodison Park.
From Liverpool’s point of view, they have already suffered a blow ahead of the game, with Alexis Mac Allister ruled out of the derby through suspension.
As a result of Mac Allister’s enforced absence, Curtis Jones is virtually certain to start in midfield for Liverpool.
Jones is in good form having scored against Newcastle on Wednesday and has also recently made his full England debut. But had some different decisions been made, the Scouser could easily have ended up wearing blue, not red.
(THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Curtis Jones of Liverpool in action during the Manchester City v Liverpool U18 Premier League game at Etihad C...
Photo by Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Why Everton turned down Curtis Jones
Jones is having a breakthrough season with Liverpool. That might sound strange given that he has now played 150 times for the first-team.
But having finally made his way into the senior England team, the Scouser feels like he is now truly fulfilling his potential as a key man in the Liverpool squad.
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That potential was very clear from an early age, where Jones made a mockery of defences and midfields in the Liverpool academy.
Everton have long known that they made a mistake in not signing Jones up when they had the chance.
READ MORE: Curtis Jones admits Liverpool did something ‘terrible’ during 3-3 draw with Newcastle
According to a report in The Athletic from March 2020, though, the Toffees were clear in their decision not to bring Jones to Finch Farm.
It’s claimed that Everton did look at taking the No.17 at the same time as Liverpool, but staff decided against his signing purely because Jones was ‘too cocky’ and reportedly modelled himself on Cristiano Ronaldo.
Curtis Jones looking for Everton revenge
Jones did of course make Everton pay for this indiscretion long before Saturday’s meeting.
The 23-year-old bagged a wonderful goal at Anfield to knock them out of the FA Cup in 2020.
But with the Everton snub still not that far removed, Jones will no doubt be keen to get one over on them once again, this time as a senior Liverpool player.
It’s clear just how much this game means to him, too. Speaking to Sky Sports in October this year, Jones ranked the Merseyside Derby as Liverpool’s biggest rivalry in his opinion.
“That just comes down to being a Scouser,” he said when asked why he ranks the rivalry ahead of others such as Man United.
“I’m a Liverpool fan from a kid and my family are as well. Obviously I’ve got friends who are Everton fans and that back and forth with them is always nice. If you go and win the game it’s obviously our city until the next time.”
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