Before their highly anticipated Boxing Day clash with Leicester, Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones received a heartfelt message from former Reds boss Jürgen Klopp, who congratulated him on reaching his 100th career Premier League appearance.
Jones, still just 23 years old, would go on to net the decisive goal in that match, capping off his milestone moment in the most fitting way possible.
Klopp’s wishes may be a sign of his continued love for the club, but perhaps more importantly, it shows that Jones is a player that both the former and the current managers realize can be truly special.
Potential into Reality
Jones had consistently displayed flashes of his ability in previous seasons, but there is no question that his contributions to the senior team this campaign have been his most impactful and meaningful in a Liverpool shirt.
Squad depth has been a defining characteristic of this Liverpool team, and Jones has arguably emerged as the Reds’ most effective and reliable “depth player.”
Though he hasn’t logged as many minutes as Liverpool’s regular starting midfield trio, Jones has carved out a consistent role in a midfield that ranks among the world’s best, seamlessly rotating with Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, and Dominik Szoboszlai under Arne Slot’s tactical flexibility.
Jones’ current playing time projects him to log 1,647 minutes by the end of the season if he remains fit—far exceeding the 1,167 minutes he managed last season and underscoring his growing importance to the squad this campaign.
On top of his clutch goal vs Leicester, Jones has scored two other big goals this season, including the match-winner vs. Chelsea and a key equalizer vs. Newcastle.
Jones’ three goals this season makes him Liverpool’s highest scoring midfielder in the Premier League and puts him only one behind winger Cody Gakpo.
His goal tally this season has also already matched his best scoring season in the Premier League from 2022-2023, showing that his instincts in the final third have greatly improved under Arne Slot.
Part of an Reds Exclusive Club
It’s also worth noting that Jones now joins a very exclusive list of LFC Academy graduates to make 100 or more Premier League appearances since 2000, joining former Red Raheem Sterling and academy poster boy Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Jones’ accrued experience as a first team player has also proven to be valuable in the Champions League, as the Scouser has earned three straight starts against Leverkusen, Real Madrid and Girona, picking up an assist against the German side as well.
Injuries have also been a nagging problem for Jones in the past, as he missed eight Premier League games with knocks in 2023-2024; however, save for two of the first three league games this season, Jones has been very fit, not missing a match since the Reds visited Old Trafford.
Whether it’s a new rehab method or recovery regimen, Jones has bought into the mentality that the season is a grind, but one that needs to be done to achieve greatness.
He recently shared “It's just game after game after game. As a footballer, that's what you enjoy, especially for someone like me. I've had a hard run, my career has been up and down for reasons, I've had my injuries and stuff. Touch wood it stays the same (as now) I'm in the team, I'm scoring goals and I'm enjoying it, so I just hope it continues.”
It feels like Curtis Jones has been a Red for an eternity, but with the power of youth on his side, Jones still has much more to offer his boyhood club and the opportunity to leave behind a very solid legacy on Merseyside.