Curtis Jones has indicated that Jurgen Klopp wants more from him, as his role in the Liverpool squad grows in importance.
The Liverpool-born midfielder has been involved in the Reds squad for around five seasons now, without ever nailing down a starting position.
That looked to be changing in recent months, as Jones started four Premier League games in a row, the last of which saw him sent off for a second bookable offence during a controversial 2-1 loss at Tottenham Hotspur.
A subsequent suspension meant that the 22-year-old missed out on the games against Brighton and Everton, but he was back in front of the cameras on Wednesday as part of Liverpool's pre-match press conference ahead of their Europa League meeting with Toulouse at Anfield.
Curtis Jones on his Liverpool career
Sitting alongside Klopp, Jones explained how he feels he has matured, on the back of enforced injury absences last season.
"The time I was out, the team wasn't in its best phase," he said. "I saw a chance where I could help the team; I matured and my mind frame changed. I needed games; the most important thing was I was playing game after game after game."
"If you play well, you can keep your place. If I'm not, they can change it, same for Dom [Szoboszlai], whoever. That's just a world class club; you've got a squad full of world class players who can change a game."
Jones also spoke about his pressing responsibilities in the team, and how that is something he has had to grow into over the past few seasons.
"When I came in the team, I felt I hit a wall," he added. "It was about going over my game and finding improvements. I know that the manager and the staff want more. I've never seen myself as a player who can be the first to press, but that is what the fans say now. I've added that in my game. I've still got a lot to learn but I'm getting there."
🗣 "It was the hunger I had in me to come back and play."
Curtis Jones on what has allowed him to get back to him best pic.twitter.com/eLTTcHxNNw— Football Daily (@footballdaily) October 25, 2023
Local heroes
Liverpool have a strong tradition of building a dressing room around local talent, whether that's the likes of Robbie Fowler and Steve McManaman, or Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard who followed later.
Now it's the likes of Jones and Trent Alexander-Arnold representing the city at Anfield, and with senior stars such as Jordan Henderson and James Milner having left this summer, supporters are sure to enjoy hearing Jones speak so maturely about his game.
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