Liverpool's next captain may be quietly emerging as Arne Slot star makes ambitions clear

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk is still under contract for another season after this one, but Curtis Jones has been speaking this week about his ambitions of one day taking over

Liverpool's players celebrate after Hugo Ekitike scored their second goal against Tottenham(Image: Shaun Brooks - CameraSport via Getty Images)

In addition to wanting to force his way into the England squad in time to play at next summer's World Cup, Curtis Jones detailed this week his ambition to one day become Liverpool captain.

"I think the biggest thing is I still have to have a humble way about myself," he told Sky Sports. "I want to be captain of the team. I want to stay here all my life, like the man I look up to in every way, Steven Gerrard.

"Everybody knows — even the boots that I wear and how he conducted himself — if I speak with staff who have worked with him and how he was seen, if I could follow him, that would be great.

"I'd always have a smile on my face, especially with who he is in the city and how he is seen in the footballing world. I want to be seen in the same way, but I'm 24. I've still got a long way to go.

"I could be sat at the end of my time and I'm looking back at 600, 700, 800 games. I wish it could be. But I have to always do everything right to stay fit and do all the right things. At the end of my career, I'll see."

That he is from Liverpool should only add a small weight in Jones' favor when it comes to a future conversation about the captaincy, whenever it is that Virgil van Dijk moves on.

Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones during the Premier League game with Brighton(Image: Steven Halliwell/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

What is much more significant is the feeling that he is becoming a more regular starter under Arne Slot, helping drive the team forward and away from a difficult moment.

Jones was one of those to speak passionately after the 4-1 home defeat against PSV in the Champions League, with his X-rated interview a blunt and honest admission of the recent failures.

Since then, Jones has been in very good form, helping to add steel in the center of the field and dragging Liverpool out of a difficult spell. He has been the Reds' best performer in December, playing particularly well in the win over Brighton.

There is still a question mark over whether Jones will remain in the starting XI for every game in the long run when others return to form and fitness.

With few other obvious options when Van Dijk vacates the role, though, he has to be a candidate.

Andy Robertson, the current vice-captain, will likely be gone by then. Alisson Becker could be another choice, but he is turning 34 next year and his frequent injuries are likelier to get worse rather than better as he gets older.

Dominik Szoboszlai could be a strong pick — he is the captain of his country — and Alexis Mac Allister is possibly another. In time, perhaps the likes of Florian Wirtz or Ryan Gravenberch could grow into it.

Approaching what should be the peak years of his career, however, Jones should be in with a shout as much as anyone. It's definitely something that he has been thinking about.