Liverpool icon Steven Gerrard made the tongue-in-cheek remark in late 2024, and Thomas Tuchel has now inadvertently responded during the current international break
Thomas Tuchel, England Manager, speaks to the media
Thomas Tuchel has omitted Curtis Jones from his last three England squads(Image: 2025 Getty Images)
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Liverpool and England legend Steven Gerrard once jokingly claimed that the FA and England's coaching set-up should have been fined. The playful remark was inspired by Curtis Jones' stunning debut performance for the Three Lions in November 2024, with Gerrard insisting English football's governing body waited too long to offer the Liverpool star his first call-up.
Gerrard's tongue-in-cheek comment came as Jones scored against Greece a year ago. The midfielder marked his first England cap with a superb effort as he flicked Morgan Gibbs White's cross behind him to secure a 3-0 victory.
"What a player," Gerrard posted on his Instagram story after the game. He then added: "Fine the FA and all the coaches for being late."
However, a year on, Gerrard will be seething as Tuchel has inadvertently responded to the ex-Rangers manager's calls by omitting Jones from his latest squad for the World Cup qualifying games against Serbia and Albania.
While Jones, 24, has six caps for the Three Lions and was even called up by Tuchel for the German's first-ever squad in charge of England, he has not been included in the last three camps.
Jones has played a part in every game he has been available for Arne Slot's team this season, having contended with several injury concerns.
While the Reds have struggled in the Premier League, most recently being on the end of a 3-0 drubbing by Manchester City, Jones has stood out with several composed performances for the reigning champions, but it has not been deemed enough to turn Tuchel's head.
Gerrard's affinity for his fellow Liverpudlian stems from coaching him while he was in charge of the Anfield side's under-18s. Liverpool's former No. 8 has proven inspirational to Jones, with the current Reds star once eulogising over his idol. He said: "I say it now, still, I feel like Steven was the one who came in and made me really think, ‘Look, if I lock all the way in, now I can go to the top.
“I’ll never forget the time, we’d been away on pre-season – I don’t know what country it was – we came back and he got the whole team in on a one-to-one and he’d been speaking about the things you did well and what you needed to improve."
Curtis Jones of England celebrates scoring his team's third goal against Greece
Curtis Jones scored for England against Greece in November 2024
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He continued: “I remember when he came in – I don’t want to say what he said – it was good but it was not nice. It wasn’t nice. It was like the harsh truths. I’ll say a little bit: ‘I gave you the 10 shirt on your back because I want you to be my main lad in my team and I want to build the team around you, but you didn’t show enough'.
“There was a game that he said, this is was what stuck in my head a lot – where I wanted to show him that anything you need from me I’ll do it – we’d been beaten by Fulham and he said I’d been tackled and the lad had stood over and said something while I’d been on the floor.
“He turned around to me and said, ‘What did you do about it?!’ I said, ‘I can’t remember’, and he said, ‘Well, I’ll tell you, you did nothing!. “I sat there and thought, ‘you’re right’. This is my club, there are people like you who have played your whole life here and even came back to the academy and now you’re a coach, you want to give your all to the club. There are people like me, I’m a Scouser myself, I don’t understand the situation I’m in. I need to grow up here and need to be a man.”
Steven Gerrard talks to Curtis Jones (right) during the Derby County v Liverpool U18 Premier League game at the Derby County Academy on August 11, 2017
Gerrard coached Jones at U18 level for the Reds(Image: Photo by Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
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Jones has won two Premier League titles with Liverpool but has struggled to make a dent on the England squad in 2025. Then England interim-manager Lee Carsley, who handed Jones his debut in 2024, also waxed lyrical about the midfielder's maiden outing.
"Curtis Jones is an outstanding player," he told ITV. "He played really well, even without his goal. With his goal it was an excellent performance. People were speaking last night about the inexperience in the squad but these players are playing for their clubs at a really high level."
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