Curtis Jones lifts lid on Liverpool locker room demand at half-time during Fulham draw

After an underwhelming first half, the Reds were significantly improved in the second period and managed to score twice; Curtis Jones revealed part of the reason for that uplift after the break

Curtis Jones has revealed what was behind Liverpool's second-half improvement at Fulham(Image: Getty Images)

Curtis Jones has revealed that some choice half-time words led to an improvement in Liverpool’s performance in the second period against Fulham on Sunday.

The Reds drew 2-2 at Craven Cottage in their first away game of 2026. It was another underwhelming display from the Premier League champions, though, and they failed to produce a shot on target in the first half.

That improved after the break, however, with Liverpool scoring twice via Florian Wirtz and Cody Gakpo, while producing six shots overall. The possession stats also dropped in the second half, which will be seen as an odd sign of improvement, given the often slow and tepid passing patterns in the first period.

Speaking after the game, Jones admitted the players felt they needed to get to grips with things during the half-time interval.

“In the first half, we had the ball a lot. We tried, and it didn’t come off as much,” the midfielder told LFCTV.

“At half-time, we spoke about that we’ve got to show more heart and things like that.

“That’s what we went and did. We came back with two goals, and then they go and score a goal like that. It’s hard to take.”

Jones played the full 90 minutes at Craven Cottage(Image: Getty Images)

Liverpool thought it had won the game in the fourth minute of injury-time when Gakpo bundled Jeremie Frimpong’s cross over the line. However, Harrison Reed’s thunderbolt three minutes later secured a well-deserved point for Marco Silva’s side.

It’s a recurring theme for Liverpool, a team that has already conceded late goals twice in the capital this season, against Crystal Palace and Chelsea, while Leeds United also earned an injury-time equalizer last month.

“If you’re giving away a lead, especially at a time like this when we need all our points, it’s always hard,” Jones admitted.

Jones is playing an increasingly prominent role for Liverpool and has become a midfield mainstay(Image: Michael Regan/Getty Images)

“I definitely think it was a better game all round than the Leeds game [last week], 100 percent. But as I said, we always want to come away with all three points; that’s what we’ll always try.

“It doesn’t matter if we’re playing against any team away, for the talent on the pitch and things like that, I feel like we should go and win games like that.”

The draw leaves Liverpool in fourth place, nine points behind third-place Aston Villa, but three clear of Chelsea and Manchester United in fifth and sixth, respectively.