Jones ´happiest he´s ever been´ at Liverpool under Slot

Curtis Jones says he is “probably the happiest he’s been” since Arne Slot’s arrival at Liverpool.

Jones was first promoted to the first team by Jurgen Klopp in September 2019, but despite going on to make 133 appearances for his boyhood club, he failed to nail down a place in the German’s starting line-up after that.

Last season, the 23-year-old made 36 appearances in all competitions, more than in any other season, netting five goals as Liverpool won the EFL Cup and finished third in the Premier League.

Now, with a new manager at the helm, Jones believes Slot’s more patient approach will suit him better, allowing him to secure a regular starting spot.

“[Slot’s] amazing. It’s probably the happiest I’ve been,” Jones told reporters during their pre-season camp.

“As a style of play, it suits me. 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. I came around the team as a young lad. I always had a way of playing, but I had to adapt and change.

Love it, Curtis ‍ pic.twitter.com/u0YBOiWWb4

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 26, 2024

“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.

“My way of playing has always been to get on the ball and play, help the team, and be comfortable on the ball.

“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. In the past, it was kind of a rush. It was a bit too direct; it was up and down. Now Arne wants us to have all the ball and completely kill teams.”

Liverpool are in the United States for their three-game pre-season tour, starting with Real Betis on Friday.