Gerrard’s Crystal Ball: Why Curtis Jones Is Becoming Liverpool’s Scouse Heartbeat

Steven Gerrard called it — and Curtis Jones is proving him right. Twelve months on from the Liverpool legend’s bullish forecast, the local lad is knitting Arne Slot’s side together with maturity on the ball and graft without it. For a fanbase still weighing up a new era post-Klopp, this is a development to savour.

Gerrard saw it early

Gerrard knows Anfield’s corridors better than most after 26 years in red, and he read the room perfectly during a choppy spell for Liverpool. Even while offering a calm, grown-up perspective on Mohamed Salah’s squabble with Arne Slot, he doubled down on a more long-term belief: Curtis Jones had the tools to be the team’s Scouse pulse.

Having coached Jones in the academy, Gerrard always rated his ceiling. He told The Anfield Wrap, via the Liverpool Echo, that Jones had the edge on him technically — we’re talking close control, dribbling, and the little manipulations that buy half a yard in tight spaces. And in The Times, he went further, predicting that with proper guidance Jones would grow into that “heartbeat” role. No bluster, just a veteran’s eye for talent.

Slot’s tweak, Jones’s time

Under Jurgen Klopp, Jones was often the reliable squad man — trusted, tidy, but rarely the first name on the teamsheet. Slot’s recent shift has changed the picture. With a structure that prizes secure possession and front-foot pressing, Jones suddenly looks indispensable: press-resistant, neat in the clinches, and relentless out of possession.

He’s started the last five across all competitions and, crucially, looked the part in the biggest moments — including a standout Champions League night at the San Siro against Inter Milan. That’s the kind of audition that turns a manager’s hunch into a habit. For those weighing form like the markets on best betting sites, the trend line is obvious: Jones is trending up.

The international picture

Gerrard always framed the challenge simply: the right coach had to grab Jones and lift him to the next tier — the same way Rafa Benítez once jolted Gerrard into the elite. Slot appears willing to be that catalyst. If this trajectory holds, England will take note beyond his six caps; a ‘top, top’ international isn’t fanciful talk anymore — it’s a plausible destination.

What it means for Liverpool

In a season that’s fluctuated, Jones offers something priceless: continuity of identity. He’s the local link who plays the modern game — tempo-setter, press trigger, and safety valve when the heat rises. That combination doesn’t just steady the ship; it gives Slot a tactical anchor as he imposes his style.

The bottom line? Gerrard’s read wasn’t nostalgia talking. It was a seasoned pro spotting a midfielder growing into himself at the perfect moment. If Jones keeps this level, he won’t just be part of the project — he’ll be central to it.

Statistics referenced courtesy of Transfermarkt. Correct as of 25-12-25.