Arne Slot Praises Curtis Jones’ Progress After Liverpool’s 4-0 Win Over Bayer Leverkusen

Liverpool manager Arne Slot couldn’t hide his admiration for Curtis Jones after the young midfielder delivered another strong performance in Liverpool’s impressive 4-0 victory against Bayer Leverkusen. Starting the match, Jones made a big impact by assisting Luis Diaz’s opening goal just after the hour mark, showcasing his creativity and confidence on the ball.

This season, Jones has been gradually building his stats, with a goal and three assists in his 12 appearances. While his season had a slower start due to injuries, he’s been a regular in the lineup since October, and Slot believes his recent performances are evidence of real growth.

Speaking after the game, Slot shared his thoughts on Jones’ progress, noting the midfielder’s newfound confidence. Slot admitted that while Jones had a shaky start in preseason under his leadership, he’s come a long way since then. “What a pass from Curtis Jones!” Slot said, clearly impressed with Jones’ vision and playmaking ability. “I think many of them have lots of goals and assists. I still learn about every player daily, and Curtis is one of them.”

Arne Slot: “Curtis Jones played an incredible pass and you saw the speed of Lucho. The pass was just as good as the goal in my opinion.” #lfc pic.twitter.com/ifjQp3R1Lh

— Anything Liverpool (@AnythingLFC_) November 5, 2024

Slot explained that in his first game as Liverpool coach, he tried playing Jones in a defensive midfield role, known as the ‘number six’ position, during a behind-closed-doors match. The experiment didn’t quite work out, but Slot used that experience to understand Jones’ strengths better. “When I started off, the first game I played him as a six… but that wasn’t his best game,” Slot recalled. “Not for him, and not for us as a team.”

Slot now believes Jones has the ability to play in any midfield role thanks to his confidence and composure on the ball. Whether positioned close to the defense or pushing forward into the attack, Jones has shown he’s comfortable and reliable. “At this moment, he can play in every position,” Slot noted. “He’s so comfortable on the ball that you can trust him closer to your defense.”

Jones’ attacking abilities haven’t gone unnoticed either. Slot highlighted Jones’ ability to penetrate the opponent’s box and make key passes, as shown in his assist to Diaz. “He can also break into the 18-yard box and deliver the last pass,” Slot said, applauding Jones’ versatility.

It’s clear that Jones has “stepped up” his game after a challenging preseason, and Slot feels his hard work is paying off. Slot explained, “He’s really made a step up, and that’s why he’s getting his chances now. If players perform well—and I have a lot of players doing well at the moment—they will get their chances.”