Curtis Jones is relishing his role as a senior player in a new-look Liverpool side.
The Liverpool midfielder became a key figure of Jurgen Klopp’s team toward the end of last season and has continued to be a first-team regular when available
Jones reached 100 appearances for the club in the Reds' win over Wolves in September
Reflecting on his importance to the squad, England Under-21 international believes he has proved his worth to the Liverpool boss.
Jones said:
“I feel I’m at a point now where he [Klopp] understands, ‘okay, we can bring him on if the team is getting beat because we know he can pop up with a goal or he can create something, or he can start in a big game because we know what we’ll get from him is going to be hard work, he will go and press, he won’t hide if the other team is on top, he will want the ball still, he’s not scared’.
“So, I feel like I’ve gained his trust. But I’ve still got a long way to go. I’m on 100 games but I feel it’s just the beginning and I want to just carry on and hold the form and keep it going.”
Klopp has often praised Jones for his desire to press
While there has been plenty of attention paid to the new aspects of ‘Liverpool 2.0’, Jones feels the process has allowed him to take up a more senior position in the squad.
Jones added
“There has been a huge change in the team and I’m one of the ones who has been here – it’s mad to say, I’m only 22 – but I’ve been here [since] 17,”
"There’s lads who are coming in now and it’s their first time around the team, so I’m like an experienced one who has been around the whole of the thing for a long time.
“So, yeah, even though I’m young I do feel like I’m one of the experienced ones and know how the manager and staff like [us] to go and play.
“He’s spoken about it a lot, the way I’m the first one to go and press and things like that.
"Now, I was a kid who came in and pressing and defending were never a thing for me! ‘No, I don’t need that part of the game’.
"Now that he’s picking up on it loads and he’s spoken about it, just goes to show how much that I’ve actually changed.”
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