Steven Gerrard has humorously called for the Football Association (FA) and England’s coaching staff to be fined after Curtis Jones’ impressive performance in England’s 3-0 victory over Greece. The Liverpool legend’s lighthearted remark came following the 23-year-old’s sensational debut for the national team. Where he scored a stunning goal to mark his first cap.
Jones, who has been in superb form under Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp this season, carried that momentum into the international stage. His goal, a clever flick behind him from Morgan Gibbs-White’s cross, sealed England’s dominant win over Greece.
Gerrard, who coached Jones during his time managing Liverpool’s U18s, took to social media to joke about how long it had taken the England setup to recognize Jones’ talents. On his Instagram story, Gerrard posted: “What a player. Fine the FA and all the coaches for being late.”
The praise for Jones extended beyond Gerrard, with England’s interim manager Lee Carsley also lauding the midfielder’s performance. “Curtis Jones is an outstanding player,” Carsley said in an interview with ITV. “He played really well, even without his goal. With his goal, it was an excellent performance. These players are playing at a really high level for their clubs, and that showed tonight.”
For his part, Jones was quick to credit his teammates for the freedom he enjoyed on the field. The Liverpool academy product explained that the presence of players like Jude Bellingham. Who provided defensive cover, allowed him the space to make his attacking runs. “If you’ve got a team like ours, I can go high, I can come low, I can get on the ball, I can play,” Jones said. “Jude stayed back and I saw I had a chance to go. That’s what I did and luckily enough I scored.”
Reflecting on his journey, Jones acknowledged the impact that Gerrard’s coaching had on his development. “I’ll never forget the time during our pre-season,” Jones recalled. “Steven came in and told me the harsh truths. He said, ‘I gave you the 10 shirt because I want you to be my main player, but you didn’t show enough.’ It was a turning point for me.”
Jones recalled a specific moment where Gerrard pushed him to show more resilience after a tough defeat to Fulham. “He said, ‘What did you do when that guy stood over you after you’d been tackled?’ I said, ‘I don’t remember,’ and he said, ‘Well, I’ll tell you, you did nothing!’ That moment stuck with me.”
Jones now credits Gerrard for helping him mature, both on and off the pitch. “He made me think, ‘If I lock in now, I can go to the top,’” Jones added, acknowledging the role Gerrard played in shaping his mindset and ambition.
With his debut goal and standout performance, Jones’ international future looks bright. And Gerrard’s comments only add to the sense that young midfielder is ready to make his mark on global stage.
