Curtis Jones has revealed that he received a congratulatory text from Jurgen Klopp after Liverpool’s 3-1 win over Leicester City.
Arne Slot’s side moved seven points clear at the top of the Premier League but needed to come from behind at Anfield to see off the Foxes on Boxing Day.
Jordan Ayew gave Leicester City an early lead in the sixth minute but Liverpool were level on the stroke of half time through a sublime strike from Cody Gakpo.
Jones then struck shortly after the break to put Liverpool in front before an excellent finish from Mohamed Salah with eight minutes remaining sealed the victory for the hosts.
Jones was making his 100th Premier League appearance for Liverpool and the 23-year-old revealed his former manager has privately congratulated him on reaching the milestone.
‘It was Jurgen,’ Jones revealed.
‘I just came in then and we had a talk as a team, I went on my phone, we normally text family and stuff and I saw a text off Klopp and he said, ‘congrats on 100 games and here’s to 500’.
‘I was like, ‘what’s he on about?’. 100, I’m on more than that for appearances, so I just checked my Instagram and it was 100 Prem [games]. Proud, absolutely proud yeah.
‘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.’
In a separate interview after the game, Jones said of Klopp: ‘He is the man who made me from a kid to a man.
‘There was always talks around me, ‘is he good enough. He is always injured’. There is a reason why I am here now still. That’s because of him and the belief he had in me.
‘I’m not saying I am a star now but I am doing the right thing. I am scoring goals and playing every week. The quality I have got I can always help the team.
‘I am grateful to him and his staff. It puts a smile on my face. I said I hope you’re enjoying Christmas he said ‘yeah, I am’. It’s nice. He is always there with us. He is a great man.’
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