Liverpool prioritizes establishing a sustainable culture that extends beyond the tenure of individuals leaving the club, and Curtis Jones has assumed significant responsibility among the latest talents emerging from the club’s academy.

Jurgen Klopp places great importance on recruiting players with the right character traits: individuals who are not only skilled on the pitch but also possess a winning mindset and are good people off the field.

Although Curtis Jones wasn’t brought in from outside, he has demonstrated these qualities and more since progressing through the academy to become a vital component of Klopp’s evolving squad.

Beyond just being a player, Jones has assumed a role in setting high standards for the next generation of academy talents integrated into the team.

This echoes his own experience, learning from senior players like James Milner, Adam Lallana, and Gini Wijnaldum when he first joined the first team. Assistant manager Pepijn Lijnders is pleased to see the club’s culture being passed down through players like Jones.

“So, when Curtis Jones came in [to the first team], Milly, Adam Lallana, Gini were on top of him all the time, they were speaking every time he did something wrong or right,” Lijnders explained.

“They cared, and now you see Calum [Scanlon] coming in or Luke [Chambers], and Curtis is speaking [to them] in the same way to how Milly was speaking. And then you create a culture.

“That was a dream and we knew it was possible but, in the end, we are here and all these guys I just mentioned, believe and want [to succeed].”

Lijnders added: “We really want this [academy] pathway to be open, because we feel that only then you create a healthy club, a club who is sustainable and who has culture.

“One of the reasons why we all love working for this club is [because] it is much bigger than the first team. It is an institution, in my opinion.”

Lijnders’ remarks on the academy’s development pathway were as captivating as ever. With players like Jones and Trent Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool finds the fresh inspiration they’ve always sought.