Liverpool players are getting more and more used to a new style of player under Arne Slot.
The Reds have undergone a big change this summer, with the majority having only ever worked with one manager at the club.
That manager was not just any old man off the street, though, it was of course the great Jurgen Klopp. When you’ve worked with one of the best coach’s in Liverpool history, why would you want anything else?
For now, the changes between Klopp and Slot’s style has been limited to speculation amongst fans and media. Slot hit back at perceptions of his tactics but with Liverpool yet to play in-front of crowd, it’s been hard to pinpoint the differences.
With the Reds set to take on Real Betis in Pittsburgh on Saturday morning, they should soon become clearer. And judging by Curtis Jones‘ recent comments, supporters should be excited.
Curtis Jones takes aim at Jurgen Klopp tactics
Jones will be expected to kick on once again this season. The 23-year-old’s development stalled a little last year after a campaign disrupted by injury.
Since graduating from the academy and making his Liverpool debut in 2019, Jones has perhaps not quite developed to the degree that he’s capable of.
Back in from day one of pre-season under Slot, the Scouser will have been hoping to make a big impression and cement his place in the starting XI.
And according to Jones, the new head coach has a style of play that will give him all the tools to do that.
“The principles are the same but I feel the centre-mids will be more the heart of the team,” the midfielder told a pre-Betis press conference.
“In terms of our build up and how comfortable on the ball and stuff and how calm we have to be and play more as a team,” he clarifies. “We’re not in a rush to attack, we kind of just want to have the ball and break teams down and then if we give the ball away then we can go and press.”
Jones then went on to launch a slightly surprising attack on the style of play Liverpool had adopted for years under Klopp.
“I feel more in the past a bit it was kind of like a rush, we’d get the ball back and it was a little bit too direct I’d say,” he says.
“It was up and down, up and down to where now it’s going to be at the point where he wants us to have all the ball and just completely kill teams.”
Is Curtis Jones right about Jurgen Klopp?
We can’t be the only ones who are surprised – and a little taken aback – by Jones’ comments on his former manager. In our opinion, he was a little more scathing than he needed to be.
Liverpool were successful for a long, long time under Klopp and the methods he plays with were lauded far and wide.
If Jones was not completely happy with that then of course that’s fine. But he could surely have been slightly more diplomatic in his answer here.
It’s obviously fine to be excited about working with a new manager and having a fresh start. Jones clearly thinks he now has the possibility of a more regular ticket into the team.
But there should have been a little more respect for the manager who gave him his debut and nurtured him into a Liverpool player. Still, it does sound like we’re in for a good watch under Arne!