InterviewCurtis Jones: We know the league is won - but it's important to finish strongly
Curtis Jones believes Liverpool's title celebrations will live long in the memory for everyone associated to the Reds, though insists full focus is now on a strong finish to the season.
The Reds delivered a record-equalling 20th top-flight trophy last weekend as they defeated Tottenham Hotspur 5-1 at Anfield to clinch Premier League glory with four games to spare.
Jubilant celebrations among the players, staff and supporters followed the full-time whistle and in the days afterwards, with the squad greeted on their return to the AXA Training Centre in midweek by 'champions' decorations.
Jones, however, is determined to help Liverpool ensure they keep their momentum going until the end of the campaign, starting with Sunday's visit to Chelsea (4.30pm BST kick-off).
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"It's mixed emotions actually," the midfielder told Liverpoolfc.com of a busy few days. "I've got a few. Obviously I'm excited and proud, but at the same time I have been chilled as well.
"It's one of them things. Although we've won there's still games that we have got to play. It's good that there's still more games because of course I want to play even more. At the same time it's unfortunate because the parties can't be as big yet!"
Read on for the rest of our preview interview with Jones...
On whether he has watched all of the celebrations and videos back to try to take it all in...
It's what we did as a team. The manager and staff called us in and they had all the clips. There were separate ones and the games that we've got over the line in and won and the important goals and stuff in the season. The second part of it was the celebrations on the pitch and looking back on it all you miss what certain lads are doing and lads are dancing and lads are in with the ball-boys and the fans and all things like that. There's certain things of course that you all miss so just seeing it all back was a joy to see.
On whether his experience at Anfield on Sunday bettered playing there for the first time for Liverpool...
In terms of the atmosphere and the whole thing I feel like that was the best game I've ever been at. It started from turning up on the bus [ahead of the match] and we can't see! There's who knows how many fans already outside and then there's 60,000 inside and all things like that. The whole game was just ridiculous. It's unfortunate that Tottenham scored first and that's probably the only thing that we regret because it probably took a small sting out of it. But then as soon as we scored and then Macca [Alexis Mac Allister] scored his goal it just erupted and it went mad.
Then it carried on and at the end of the game when I've had my shot I've looked and I've seen there's only a few seconds left and the whistle goes. That's what the game is all about. You've got fans there, you've got the families and all things like that, and everybody is just an emotional wreck, whether you've got ones crying with excitement, or ones who are screaming and shouting with excitement. Us as well at the same time - we don't know what to do! We're jumping round like kids. What an unbelievable day it was!
On the Kop singing his name amid the celebrations and dreaming of that moment...
100 per cent. I've probably been one of the ones who has been unfortunate at times that I've had to be changed in and out of the team for reasons. He [Arne Slot] is the man and he's got to pick his team, and I respect that. I don't always agree and that's just me, but I've always thought about the team first. I've always thought if I'm starting or not I'm going to come off this bench, or if I'm starting I'm going to get goals and assists. If I didn't start games, I would never sulk and I'd never moan because at the end of the year this is what it is all about.
I don't want to be one who isn't starting a game and I'm sulking inside in the changing rooms when the lads have got to go and play. Or if I've just won a game and I've not played as much as I want to play then I'm inside there and I'm upset. I am but I'll keep that inside and I'll speak with him about things and stuff like that. But to hear them singing my name and appreciating me for what I've done, it put a massive smile on my face, and it couldn't make me more proud.
On switching focus quickly to the final four games of the season...
I think that's the important thing as well. There's four games left. I know the league is won and he'll rotate lads and give lads game time and all things like that. I feel that it's important and I know it is as well that lads will be prepped as well to know that we don't want to go from a season that's been unbelievable to now we've lost our last four games. Of course they're big games as well against tough teams.
We've got Chelsea first and we've got Arsenal as well. They're teams that we battle with all the time. I don't think it's games where we're going in there light and we're just saying, 'Oh, I've already won the league, we're just going to have this as a training game.' No, we're going there and we want to win. We're playing against these teams and we want to win. As I've said, we might change the team a touch, but that just shows the squad that we've got. We've got lads that can come in the team and still win games.
On aiming to finish this season with as many records as possible...
I think that's important as a player. I don't think there's ever a time when you think, 'Oh yeah, I've achieved everything and now I can stop.' If there's records there that we can go and break as an individual or as a team. If it's the individual then we'll help him as a team or if it's as one, as a collective, then that's what we'll go and do and that's what we'll try.