New father Curtis Jones took advantage of extra rest in the spare room and led Liverpool to a vital win under Arne Slot. Just a week after welcoming his first child, Jones stepped in for the ill Alexis Mac Allister and delivered a commanding performance against Chelsea, securing a 2-1 victory at Anfield that kept Liverpool at the top of the table.

Along with earning a penalty and scoring the winning goal, the 23-year-old effectively contained Chelsea’s Cole Palmer, even making a crucial goal-saving block.

Slot, now with 10 wins in 11 matches since taking over from Jurgen Klopp, kept Liverpool a point ahead of Manchester City, who had a dramatic victory over Wolves earlier that day.

Jones’ man-of-the-match performance capped off an unforgettable week for the local Merseyside star.

“I’ve been a dad for a week, and it’s the best feeling ever. She’s a little dream, but I thought it was smart to sleep in the spare room before the game!

“In this team, you need to help with goals, assists, and getting back defensively.

“As soon as Mo (Salah) had the ball, I made my run. It bounced, so I needed a touch, and thankfully, it went in.”

Chelsea defender Levi Colwill was surprised that his challenge on Jones led to a penalty, which Salah converted.

“I played the ball, made my run, and I never dive. I felt contact,” Jones explained, who later had another penalty call overturned by VAR.

Slot praised Jones not only for his attacking play but also for his defensive work on Cole Palmer, likening his well-rounded midfield performance to the kind of displays Anfield once saw from Steven Gerrard.