Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard has once again shown he’s as sharp with his wit as he was with his tackles. After watching Curtis Jones finally make his debut for England in their 3-0 Nations League win over Greece, Gerrard took to social media to jokingly suggest that the FA—and presumably, any coach with a clipboard—should be fined for taking this long to give Jones his England bow.
The 23-year-old Liverpool midfielder, who’s been tiptoeing in and out of Arne Slot’s starting XI this season, had the last laugh in Athens on November 14, scoring a cheeky backheel to seal England’s comfortable win. For those keeping track of quirky football trivia, Jones’ strike made him the first Liverpool player to score on his England debut since the one and only Sammy Lee, who coincidentally did the same against Greece. Clearly, Greece is a favorable destination for Liverpool midfielders with a point to prove.
England didn’t waste any time asserting their dominance in the match, with Ollie Watkins slotting one in just seven minutes into the game. The Greeks, who were probably still wiping the tzatziki off their fingers from lunch, found themselves 2-0 down after an Odysseas Vlachodimos own goal gifted England a cushion. But the real moment of magic came in the 83rd minute when Jones casually backheeled the ball into the net—because, why score a normal goal when you can make history with flair?
In true midfield boss fashion, Jones’ stats on the night were impressive. The Liverpool man completed 68 passes with an eyebrow-raising 96 percent accuracy, won seven duels, made four tackles, and generally treated the Greek midfield like it was part of a sightseeing tour. He even managed to win back possession seven times, which was probably more than the number of actual Greeks trying to win it back in the first place.
Naturally, Gerrard couldn’t resist praising his fellow Scouser, posting online: “What a player. Fine the FA and all the coaches for being so late.” Clearly, Gerrard thinks Jones should have been donning the Three Lions jersey a lot sooner—and if anyone knows about midfield timing, it’s Stevie G. One wonders how many fines the FA would have accrued if Gerrard was in charge of the call-ups.
As for Jones, this could be the springboard he needs to secure more consistent minutes under Slot at Liverpool. So far this season, he’s started in seven of the 13 matches he’s appeared in, collecting one goal and four assists along the way. Not exactly mind-blowing numbers, but hey, scoring on your England debut has a way of making you stand out. His contract at Anfield runs until 2027, giving him plenty of time to add more backheels to his growing highlight reel.
Jones’ England call-up might have come a little later than Gerrard would have liked, but the 23-year-old is no stranger to big moments. After all, he was part of the England Under-21 team that won the UEFA European Under-21 Championship in 2023, where he was named Man of the Match in the final against Spain. In typical Jones fashion, he even scored the winning goal—though, like his latest England effort, that one came with a twist, deflecting off him from a Cole Palmer free-kick.
All jokes aside, England fans will hope this is just the start of something special for Curtis Jones in the senior squad. And if it isn’t? Well, they can always fine the FA.
