Liverpool star makes comment Jurgen Klopp may not like after working with Arne Slot

The latest comments of Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones will be music to the ears of Arne Slot but could also have Jurgen Klopp raising his eyebrows. Slot is now into the second month of his tenure at Anfield after his move from Feyenoord, with the club currently in the US for their pre-season summer tour.

Jones, 23, made 36 club appearances last season although failed to nail down a regular starting place under Klopp.

However, the former England Under-21 international is now clearly hoping for a new lease of life under the new boss, having lavished praise on the Dutchman for his tactical approach and training methods.

Pressed on the influence of Slot and his team, Jones said: “He’s amazing, actually. I’ve said it a lot, it’s probably the happiest I’ve been in terms of a style of play that suits me and the lads that we have in our team, it’s a clear plan.

“In the training stuff, he is fully involved, he coaches us a lot, he is big on the finer details in things. He has a certain way of playing and he knows it is going to take a little bit of time because it is obviously a big change. He and his staff are chilled about it and they know that the quality is all there.”

Jones made his first Premier League appearances during the Covid-19 affected 2019/20 campaign, playing enough games to earn a title winners’ medal. He’s now played for the club 133 times in all competitions, but admitted he’s previously found it difficult to express himself under Klopp.

“It is the happiest I’ve ever been (now), I’d say,” he explained. “It’s always been a hard time. I came around the team as a young lad, I always had a way of playing and the team I was coming around, I had to adapt to, I had to change.

“But that was part of the plan. It wasn’t anything I couldn’t do, but I just feel now this is more me. I can get on the ball more, I can do me more so I’m excited.”

And Jones also added that Slot, who is yet to make a summer signing, was happy to discuss matters with players away from the training pitch. “Great man, he always has a smile on his face. You can approach him at any single time,” he said.

Despite proving popular with Jones, fan scepticism is rising over Slot’s lack of activity in the summer transfer window. The Reds are yet to land a signing since the window opened, despite being linked with a host of players.

Liverpool play Real Betis, Arsenal, and Manchester United while in America, before returning home to complete their pre-season preparations against Sevilla. Slot’s first competitive match comes on August 17 with a trip to newly promoted Ipswich Town.