Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones says he is enjoying learning a new possession-based style of play under Arne Slot.
The Dutchman has replaced long-time manager Jurgen Klopp, who favoured a direct approach and aggressive pressing as the Reds won the Premier League and Champions League during his tenure.
Slot places more emphasis on comfort on the ball alongside snappy tackling in defence as shown by his stint at Feyenoord and Jones has revealed he is looking forward to the increased responsibility that gives central midfielders like him at Anfield.
Asked about Liverpool‘s progress under Slot, the 23-year-old revealed: “He’s amazing. It’s probably the happiest I’ve been in terms of a style of play that suits me. It’s a clear plan in training and he’s fully involved, coaching us a lot. He’s big on the finer details. He’s got a certain way of playing – he knows it will take time as it’s a big change, but him and his staff are chilled about it as they know the quality is all there.
“It’s always been a hard time, coming around the team as a young lad and I always had a certain way of playing but I had to adapt and change. But that was part of the plan and it was something I can do. But I feel this is more me, I can get on the ball more. I’m excited.
“I feel like my way of playing has been to get on the ball and play, being comfortable on the ball. But then I came around a team that had world-class players and I was played on the wing or up front. The central midfielders were always more runners and disciplined. Those principles are the same but the central midfielder will be more the heart of the team.
“Mo Salah will always get us goals but we need to be comfortable on the ball and be calm in our build-up as a team. We’re not in a rush to attack. We need to break teams down and when we give the ball away we can press. In the past it was a rush to get the ball back, a bit too direct, up and down, up and down. Now we want to have all the ball and completely kill a team.”
Jones made 23 Premier League appearances last season, scoring and assisting a goal apiece as Liverpool finished third and won the Carabao Cup.
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