Liverpool Football Club has a rich history spanning more than 134 years, and this heritage continues to influence major decisions at the club, including player transfers. This enduring tradition recently became evident during the January transfer window when Inter Milan reportedly expressed interest in Curtis Jones, only to be firmly rebuffed by The Reds’ management.
Interest from Inter Milan surfaced toward the end of the winter transfer period, at a time when Jones was struggling to secure a regular place in Liverpool’s midfield under Arne Slot. According to The Athletic, Liverpool’s response could not have been clearer: Jones was not for sale. However, the reasoning behind keeping him extends beyond tactical considerations.
At 25 years old, Curtis Jones is now the only senior player in Liverpool’s first team born and raised in the city of Liverpool, following Trent Alexander-Arnold’s departure to Real Madrid last summer. With less than 18 months remaining on his contract and increasing competition for minutes, Liverpool is determined to uphold its long-standing tradition of always having a Scouser in the squad.
The Importance of a Scouser at Liverpool
Liverpool has long been recognized as a club that prioritizes local talent development. Similar practices exist at other top clubs, such as Manchester United, which reportedly hesitated to let Kobbie Mainoo go despite tensions with Ruben Amorim. But at Liverpool, the significance of a local player is deeper—steeped in both cultural and political history.
As a historic port city with a diverse population, Liverpool and its citizens, known as Scousers, have historically felt marginalized by national institutions. This sentiment became particularly pronounced during Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative government in the 1980s. Official documents released in 2011 revealed that Chancellor Sir Geoffrey Howe had advised Thatcher to allow Liverpool to experience a “managed decline,” framing attempts to revitalize the city as “like trying to make water run uphill.”
This context helps explain why Liverpool fans often boo the English national anthem and why banners at Anfield proclaim, “We’re not English, we’re Scouse.” The presence of at least one local player on the squad, as fans sing, carries immense symbolic value.
A Tradition of Local Talent
Liverpool’s archives indicate that since its founding in 1892, the club has consistently fielded at least one player from Merseyside each season. During the club’s European dominance in the late 1970s and early 1980s, four Scousers started in three European Cup finals (1977, 1978, and 1981). Legendary manager Bob Paisley regularly relied on ten homegrown players per season throughout his trophy-laden tenure.
In contrast, today Curtis Jones stands alone as the sole local player in the first team—a situation Liverpool has not faced since the 2013/14 season.
Form and Development
Last season, Liverpool icon Steven Gerrard, widely regarded as the embodiment of the Scouser spirit, publicly called Jones his heir. “I’ve always believed that with the right guidance and support, he can be the heartbeat of the Scouse identity in this team,” Gerrard told The Times. “And I believe he’s ready to take on that role now.”
Jones’s form has seen peaks, notably after the birth of his first child, when he delivered a standout performance against Chelsea, contributing both a goal and an assist in a 2-1 victory. His form earned him a call-up to the England national team in November 2024, where he scored on his debut against Greece. Thomas Tuchel later paired him with Declan Rice in a 2-0 win over Albania in March.
However, Jones has struggled for consistent starts over the past 11 months, losing ground to emerging talents such as Elliot Anderson at both club and international levels. Injuries disrupted his rhythm, and returning stars like Alexis Mac Allister have limited his opportunities under Slot at Liverpool. Despite a spell of four consecutive Premier League starts in December, Jones was quickly displaced when his teammates regained fitness.
The Battle for Playing Time
Liverpool may face shortages in defense and some attacking areas, but the midfield is fiercely competitive. “We have many players in that area,” Slot said this week. Ryan Gravenberch remains a fixture alongside Mac Allister, while Florian Wirtz’s rapid development and Dominik Szoboszlai’s outstanding season further reduce opportunities for Jones.
Despite the challenges, Jones is vocal about his ambitions. “I want to be seen as a player with a significant role,” he told The Athletic last year. “I have to step forward and take that responsibility on my shoulders.”
Yet achieving this at Anfield requires displacing teammates who are equally committed to staying at the club.
The Irony of Heritage
Ironically, the same Liverpool roots that shaped Jones’ identity could also motivate him to explore opportunities beyond Anfield. Growing up in Toxteth, he developed confidence, courage, and a clear understanding of his path as a professional. “Growing up in Toxteth made me the player I am today—confident, brave, and knowing where I need to go,” Jones told The Independent after breaking into Liverpool’s first team.
As he strives to reach his full potential, it is becoming increasingly apparent that Curtis Jones may need to look beyond Liverpool to fully realize his ambitions.
ALSO READ :
