Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones has revealed that Arne Slot called his triumphant team into the AXA Training Center to watch back clips of the celebratory scenes at Anfield after the Premier League title was clinched.
The England international has risen to become a key performer for the Reds during this historic season, playing 29 times en route to earning a top flight winner’s medal. He played six league games the last time that the Merseysiders clinched the championship but there has been no doubting his importance to the title charge on this occasion.
Contributing three goals and as many assists across the term, this campaign has arguably been the academy product’s best since he broke into the first team. It came as seldom surprise that the homegrown talent was at the center of the celebrations on the pitch at Anfield after a 5-1 win over Tottenham confirmed his boyhood club as champions, therefore.
He played 22 minutes on a landmark day in L4 before taking in the adulation of his adoring supporters from the terraces following the final whistle. Having been denied the chance to celebrate with fans when the Reds won the title in 2020, the midfielder was among those leading the jubilant scenes on the field as he soaked up the carnival atmosphere inside the famous old ground.
After the Reds secured a record-equalling 20th top flight crown and a first in front of supporters since 1990, Jones revealed that boss Slot was eager for his players to watch back clips of the momentous day together. Recalling being called to the AXA to do just that, he said: “It’s what we did as a team.
“The manager and staff called us in and they had all the clips. There were separate ones and the games that we’ve got over the line in and won and the important goals and stuff in the season.
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“The second part of it was the celebrations on the pitch and looking back on it all you miss what certain lads are doing and lads are dancing and lads are in with the ball-boys and the fans and all things like that. There’s certain things of course that you all miss so just seeing it all back was a joy to see.”
Looking back over the season, Jones admitted that he has had to come to terms with being a rotation option, conceding that he accepts his manager’s decisions over his game-time. He continued: “I’ve probably been one of the ones who has been unfortunate at times that I’ve had to be changed in and out of the team for reasons.
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“He [Arne Slot] is the man and he’s got to pick his team, and I respect that. I don’t always agree and that’s just me, but I’ve always thought about the team first.
“I’ve always thought if I’m starting or not I’m going to come off this bench, or if I’m starting I’m going to get goals and assists. If I didn’t start games, I would never sulk and I’d never moan because at the end of the year this is what it is all about.”
As for Slot, he has been effusive in his praise for the Scouse starlet during their first season together. After the 24-year-old earned a call-up to the England squad earlier in the campaign, he outlined the youngster’s best attributes, explaining: “He has a lot of qualities on the ball.
“He is never afraid to do something special with it, but sometimes he touches the ball a bit too much in my opinion because he is so confident.”
Further addressing where the player can improve, he added: “But confidence is an important tool. He has an incredibly hard work rate and we trust him in defence. He is complete. For him now, it is all about consistency. The best players turn up every three days and that is what he has got to show.”
