Curtis Jones turned to LeBron James for inspiration during Liverpool injury lay-off

Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones has had to battle injuries and world-class competition in his never-ending quest for minutes in a crowded Reds midfield.

He admitted how much he turned to American basketball stars like LeBron James for motivation during his extended absences in a recent with the club and presenter Rubi Deschamps

Jones embraced James - a minority over of Liverpool since 2011 - courtside at Team USA basketball's scrimmage against Team Germany in London as part of the 2024 USA Basketball Showcase. "What were you speaking to LeBron about?" Deschamps asked.

" I was just like, about his game and that, like, ‘Oh, it was good to watch it. I’ve been a big fan from a kid because I love basketball,'" Jones said in his classic Scouse accent. "And he was like, 'Keep going’ this and that."

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"Obviously, I was court-side as well, so it was a chance to see them up close and see the actual skill in the handles and all the little things like that, how they move and how they set the screens," he continued.

Jones then expressed how much he turned to James and others during his injury lay-offs. The Liverpool midfielder missed 18 days this season with a muscular. injury, almost three months last year with a combination of ankle and thigh problems, and a month and a half during the 2022/23 campaign with a stress reaction.

"The thing that I did a lot [when I was out] was listen to stuff on Kobe [Bryant], on Lebron James, on [Michael] Jordan, or elite athletes around the world," he said.

"There was a point when I was injured for a long time and I really took that time out to better myself and change me and make me a new me."

Jones managed to wrestle a spot in Arne Slot's team this campaign. He started against Chelsea on Sunday and scored the go-ahead goal during a Man-of-the-Match-level performance.

Slot was effusive in his praise of Jones postgame. "For Curtis Jones, I think in everyone’s opinion, he was the best player on the pitch," the Dutch manager admitted.

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Jones wants to fight for minutes. He missed out on starting midweek against RB Leipzig in the Champions League, but Slot said, "He’s only played two games this season from the start and didn’t finish any of the two, so for me, it was a bit too early to two days later play him again."

Jones also discussed what a player needs to do to earn a place in Slot's team: "For a player who wants to play in this team, you’ve got to run, you’ve got to have energy, you’ve got to be all over the pitch," he said.

"You’ve got to help with the goals and the assists and if you’re in center midfield, you’ve got to go and press, you’ve got to get back, you’ve got to help out. That’s what I try to do.”