Curtis Jones insists he's 'the happiest he's ever been' after Arne Slot's arrival to replace ex-boss Jurgen Klopp this summer... with midfielder keen to shed his 'squad player' tag at Anfield

When Jurgen Klopp said his goodbyes to Anfield and sailed off into the sun with a tear in his eyes, most connected with Liverpool left the stadium with an album of sad emotions at the end of a glorious era. But not Curtis Jones.

It would be easy to apply a negative spin to that previous paragraph but hold fire, that is not the case – Jones idolised Klopp and agreed he was a legend of the club. Saying that, though, the Liverpool midfielder saw it as a chance.

A chance to wipe a slate clean and start afresh. A chance to put every breath into showing the new boss what he is capable of. And a chance to make a leap forward from a squad player unable to ever nail down a starting XI spot for a consistent period.

Jones now believes he is ready to take that step by playing in a style of play that is perfect for him – and the 23-year-old, soon to become a father with partner Saffie, thinks he has what it takes to become the heartbeat of Arne Slot’s Liverpool.

‘This is the happiest I have been,’ says Jones, talking at Liverpool’s base in Pennsylvania, which is the home of six-time Super Bowl winners Pittsburgh Steelers. That is a theme he continues to circle back to during a chat about Slot, playing for England and a meeting with LeBron James.

‘Arne is amazing. It is probably the happiest I have been. In terms of a style of play, it suits us and the lads we have. It is a clear plan. He is fully involved in the training, coaches us a lot, he’s big on the finer details.

‘My way of playing has always been a kid who wants to get on the ball and play, help the team, be comfortable on the ball. I then came around a team with world-class lads on the wing and up front. I felt like the centre midfielders were more disciplined runners.

‘Of course, the principles are the same but now the midfielders are going to be the heart of the team. In terms of our build-up and being comfortable on the ball, we have to be more calm and play more as a team.

‘We’re not in a rush to attack. We want to have the ball and break teams down. I feel more in the past, it was like a rush. We got the ball back. It was a bit too direct I’d say. Arne wants us to get the ball down and completely kill teams.

‘He’s got a certain way of playing and he knows it’s going to take a little bit of time as it’s a big change, but he and his staff are chilled about it. They know there is quality out there and we still have lads coming back.’

Indeed, this three-game trip is like a band going on a worldwide tour without their lead singer or guitarist. Of the 10 players who clocked the most minutes last season, only three are in the States. Eleven senior players will not be in the squad for tonight’s clash against Real Betis.

But Jones, one of a small number who did not play at the European Championship or Copa America this summer, saw the lack of senior players as his opportunity to shine. He was given six weeks of holiday by the club – but spent 10 days of that at a training camp in Los Angeles.

He took advice in LA from Liverpool legend and fellow midfielder Steven Gerrard about how he can take his game to the next level, while also enjoying some retail therapy and acting as photographer for his influencer partner Saffie at the Beverly Hills Hotel.

Also on his holidays, a time which he said was ‘amazing’ with a smirk, Jones picked the brains of basketball legend and Liverpool fan LeBron James. LA Lakers star ‘King James’ was playing an exhibition match in London and Jones was courtside and spoke to the four-time NBA MVP.

‘I always try to study the elites around the world in all the games, ‘adds Jones. ‘I have listened to a lot of podcasts about him. How he prepares for games. How professional he is, how much he is in the gym. He is one of the best at what he does. Nice to see him play live.’

The midfielder reported for training earlier than required and, when at the AXA Training Centre last month, Mail Sport spotted a topless Jones putting in hard yards to improve his fitness and durability, especially after a season pockmarked by a series of short but frustrating injuries.

Slot’s right-hand man Sipke Hulshoff is understood to have spent a lot of time with Jones, tutoring him on positional play and how to get in goal scoring positions more. ‘(Slot) has brought in a new thing that we’ve all got a guy we work with,’ explains Jones.

‘They are showing us our clips of what we’re doing well and what we can improve on. I find that a huge help. Again, it’s the happiest I’ve been. It has always been a hard time, I came around the team as a young lad.

‘I wanted to come back (early), I knew lads would be away or off. I wanted to be under him for the first day. So I can take everything in as much as I can. That’s what I’m doing now. I have a chance to start the first game and I know what I need to do, that’s what I’m looking for.

‘I always had a way of playing but I had to adapt and change. That was part of the plan. It was not anything I could not do. But this now is more me. I can get on the ball more. I can “do me” more.

‘I’ve always had it in my head that all the lads were more experienced and older but I always knew I’d find an edge over them. I have always had that self-belief. The lads have helped to guide me.

‘The new guy coming in, everyone saw it as a clean slate. I thought I needed that. I came round the team as a young kid where players were established, I had a job on my hands. I still do but I feel now I’m at the point where everyone is equal. The ones who show it more now will play.’

Slot’s arrival is a clean slate and so too is the changing of the guard at England, with Gareth Southgate leaving after eight years. Jones featured in the preliminary squad for the Euros – and likely would have had a better chance of the main team but for an injury-hit few months.

‘I only trained but I was with lads that I came away from and thought I’m not a long way from them. I came away with a smile on my face and thought, “I’m ready, I can be around this”. But I know what I have to do.

‘I have to improve a lot, score and assist more, find a consistent way of playing and be in the team every week. And I know that (England) will come next. I have been around the team now for a long time. I don’t see myself as a kid no more.

‘I’m experienced. Been around the squad for over 100 games. There’s been a big change since I started, lads have come and gone. I’ve been around for long enough. I wouldn’t say I’m the most experienced but I know what this club and fans and team want.’