Liverpool star immedately gets text from Jurgen Klopp after Boxing Day win
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Curtis Jones has revealed he received a touching message from former manager Jurgen Klopp following Liverpool's Boxing Day win over Leicester.
The Reds extended their league at the top of the Premier League to seven points with a 3-1 victory over the Foxes at Anfield, with the Englishman getting on the scoresheet.
Arne Slot‘s side had to overcome an early scare after falling behind to a Jordan Ayew strike on six minutes, before Cody Gakpo equalised on the stroke of half-time.
Jones then put Liverpool ahead just four minutes into the second half, before Mohamed Salah wrapped up the win late on.
And the Reds academy graduate had even more reason to celebrate afterwards, as he then discovered that he had made his 100th top-flight appearance during the game.
Remarkably, Jones had been unaware of his milestone achievement until he received a congratulatory text from former boss Klopp.
Speaking after the win, he revealed: “It was Jurgen [who told him].
“I just came in then, we had a talk with the team and I just went on the phone.
“I normally text family and stuff, and I saw a text from Klopp, he said: ‘Congrats on 100 games and here’s to 500’ or something like that.
“I was like: “What’s he on about, 100? I’m on more than that [total appearances]!’ But I just checked the Instagram and yeah, [it was his] 100th Premier League game. Proud, absolutely proud yeah.”
With Klopp joining Instagram in May, Jones joked that he would likely have discovered this statistic on social media.
He said while laughing: “He’s [Klopp] on Instagram so he gets to see it!”
And Liverpool fans will love what the 23-year-old had to say next about their Premier League-winning former manager.
Having been given his senior debut by the German, Jones went on to establish himself as a regular fixture in the first-time squad, and is now thriving under new head coach Slot this season.
Despite the change in management however, he revealed that Klopp is still in regular contact with all of his old players.
He spoke in glowing terms of his old manager, saying: “That's what he's like, he's still in touch with the whole team.
“He's a great man, he's still loved off us, it was him who set up the team that we've got, the foundation was there already and Slot has just carried it on.”
Klopp left Liverpool as a legend in May, having enjoyed a glorious nine year spell on Merseyside.
After taking charge of the club in 2015, he went on to lead the club to Champions League glory in 2019, before delivering a first English title in 30 years in 2020.
Despite the 57-year-old appearing to leave a huge void upon his exit from Anfield, this has been seamlessly filled by Slot since his introduction.
The Reds have won 13 of their 17 Premier League games so far under the Dutchman, losing just once, and have a game in hand on their closest rivals Chelsea.
They have had equal joy in Europe, finishing top of the Champions League 36-team league phase table
Despite this however, Jones urged caution following the Leicester victory, and admitted it is too early to discuss silverware.
He said: "We have still got a long, long way to go. There are plenty of games to come. We'll take each game as it comes and try and win all the games.”
