Curtis Jones caused a mild stir last summer when some believed he made pointed comments toward former boss Jurgen Klopp, yet the midfielder has since revealed his true position
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PLYMOUTH, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 09: (SUN OUT, SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Curtis Jones of Liverpool gestures during the warm up prior to the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Plymouth Argyle and Liverpool at Home Park on February 09, 2025 in Plymouth, England. (Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones has clarified his comments on Jurgen Klopp
(Image: 2025 Liverpool FC)
Liverpool's Curtis Jones has moved to clarify comments he made in pre-season about life under Arne Slot compared to Jurgen Klopp. The midfielder raised some eyebrows after stating it was the "happiest" he's ever been at the club.
Jones' remarks also stretched to how he felt the team were no longer in a "rush" to attack under their new manager. His words were rather predictably construed in some quarters as criticism of former Reds' boss Klopp.
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However, the German granted the Academy graduate his debut back in January 2019 and was known to have a healthy relationship with Jones, who has now explained his remarks.
“It definitely wasn’t a dig at Jurgen,” Jones said to The Athletic. “I owe him so much. Jurgen changed me from a boy to a man. There were times when I thought I’d need a loan spell to get more game time but he kept me around the team."
At the time, the 24-year-old insisted that Slot's possession-centric style suited his natural game. "He's amazing," Jones had told reporters during a press conference ahead of this season.
Curtis Jones of Liverpool receives instructions from Arne Slot, Manger of Liverpool, prior to entering the pitch during the Carabao Cup Final between Liverpool and Newcastle United at Wembley Stadium on March 16, 2025 in London, England.
Curtis Jones has previously claimed that he is enjoying life under Arne Slot
"It's probably the happiest I've been in terms of a style of play that suits me. It's a clear plan in training and he's fully involved, coaching us a lot."
Yet Jones has now elaborated. "Jurgen made me understand the game a lot more from being a kid at the academy who was scoring and assisting all the time and didn’t really have to run. I could do whatever I wanted," he added.
“The next step was to keep that ability but change stuff like passing the ball even more and the work off the ball. I wasn’t always the best kid, but I wasn’t arrogant or cocky. I just wanted the best for myself. He was the man who made me understand so much.”
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - JANUARY 21: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah (2nd r) celebrates scoring the opening goal with Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD7 match between Liverpool FC and LOSC Lille at Anfield on January 21, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Dodd - CameraSport via Getty Images)
Curtis Jones has been an important player in Liverpool's title charge this season
Jones clocked up his 37th appearance this season on Sunday as Slot's side were beaten in the Carabao Cup Final against Newcastle United.
While the midfielder also missed a penalty in the Champions League last-16 shootout with PSG last week, it's been comfortably his finest season since breaking into Liverpool's first team back in 2019, with him being a consistent squad player for Slot's Premier League title chasing team.
Jones also won plaudits for his searing honesty after the Reds' European Cup heartbreak. "Stepping up and trying to help the team in every moment I can is the type of person that I am," wrote Jones on Instagram after the game.
Curtis Jones with former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp
Curtis Jones has praised former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp
"This comes with risk and failing, last night I got a taste of that! "I can live with missing but I can't live without taking the responsibility."
However, his performances this season have now seen him granted a place in the Thomas Tuchel's 26-man England squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia.
“I’m buzzing," Jones told The Athletic. "To get called up shows how well you’re doing for your club."