Curtis Jones: ‘I have to be in the Liverpool team every week’ | OneFootball

Curtis Jones: New Lease of Life Under Arne Slot

Curtis Jones couldn’t have been more enthusiastic about his initial experiences with Arne Slot. “He’s amazing. It’s probably the happiest I’ve been,” the Liverpool midfielder expressed at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, the elite training facility of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

A Fresh Perspective on Tactics

This glowing endorsement is significant coming from Jones, who has progressed from an academy prospect to earning an England call-up, amassing 133 first-team appearances for his childhood club under Jurgen Klopp. Jones elaborated on why he believes Slot’s approach to football will allow him to secure the regular starting position he yearns for.

“As a style of play, it suits me,” Jones stated. “It is a clear plan. Arne is fully involved in the training, he coaches us a lot, he’s big on the finer details. He knows it’s going to take a bit of time because it’s a big change.”

Jones reminisced about his early days with the team, “I came around the team as a young lad. I always had a way of playing, but I had to adapt and change. It wasn’t anything I couldn’t do. But this now is more me. I can get on the ball more. I can ‘do me’ more.”

The Evolution of Jones’ Play

When Jones broke through as an 18-year-old, he was technically proficient but lacked tactical discipline. Under Klopp, his off-the-ball work improved significantly, proving his adaptability and enhancing his role within the team. He contributed by pressing effectively and developed into one of the finest athletes in the squad.

Jones featured in 36 matches for Liverpool across all competitions in the 2023-24 season, more than in any previous season, but he found himself out of favour towards the end. He finished the season with five goals and three assists. Reflecting on his performance, Jones indicated a lingering frustration that he couldn’t fully express his abilities.

Slot’s style, focusing on possession and patient build-up, promises to provide Jones with more freedom to display his creativity. The slower pace and emphasis on controlling the ball will allow him to feel less constrained.

“My way of playing has always been to get on the ball and play, help the team, and be comfortable on the ball,” Jones explained. “I then came around a team who had world-class lads on the wing and up front. The centre-mids were always more like runners, more disciplined. Now the midfielders are going to be the heart of the team. In terms of our build-up, we have to be more calm and play more as a team. We’re not in a rush to attack. We want to have the ball and just break teams down.”

Image: @LFC

New Era Under Slot

Jones has always been forthright with his opinions, and Klopp might chuckle at Jones’ assessment of his tactical system. No disrespect was meant; Jones expressed his gratitude to Klopp for launching his professional career.

“I am happy he could walk away as a legend of the club and can experience life with his family now,” he said. “When I first came around the team as a young kid, more experienced and older players were established. I had a job on my hands. I always had that self-belief that I’d find an edge over them. Now with a new guy coming in, I don’t think anyone has the edge over anyone else. Everyone sees it as a clean slate. The ones who show it more now are the ones who will play.”

Jones praised Slot’s approachable nature and the detailed feedback system he has introduced. “Arne always has a smile on his face. You can approach him at any time and ask for help. He’s brought in a new thing that we’ve all got — a guy we work with showing us our clips from training of what we’re doing well and what we can improve on. I find that a huge help.”

Aiming for Leadership and Growth

Jones cut short his summer break, which included a visit to Los Angeles to meet his former youth coach Steven Gerrard, to ensure he was ready to impress Slot. He also had the chance to meet basketball star and Liverpool minority owner LeBron James in London.

“It was a nice experience. A different sport but I always try to study the elites around the world,” Jones remarked. “I have listened to a lot of podcasts about LeBron — how he prepares for games, how professional he is, how much time he spends inside the gym. He is one of the best at what he does. He’s someone I can learn a lot from. It was nice to see him play live.”

With experienced players like Thiago and Joel Matip departing, Jones is eager to step into a leadership role. He also has personal milestones ahead, as his girlfriend Saffie is expecting their first child.

“I don’t see myself as a kid anymore,” Jones stated. “I’ve played over 100 games. I’ve been around the team the longest along with Trent (Alexander-Arnold), Virg (van Dijk) and Alisson. I know what this club and the fans want.”

Jones’s determination is clear as he looks to cement his place in the team and possibly make his way into the senior England squad for the 2026 World Cup in North America. His inclusion in Gareth Southgate’s preliminary squad for Euro 2024 has only fueled his ambition.

“I only trained, but I came away with a smile and thought, ‘I’m ready, I can be around this’. I have to be in the Liverpool team every week. I need to improve a lot, score and assist more, find a consistent way of playing. If I do that, then that (England) will come.”