Curtis Jones trains with Everton winger in final days before pre-season

Curtis Jones is ramping up his training in Los Angeles ahead of pre-season, and the Liverpool youngster was joined by one of his Everton counterparts on Tuesday.

Jones has spent most of his summer in the United States, and ahead of the return to Kirkby for day one of pre-season on Monday, has been stepping up his preparations.

That has taken in a six-a-side game with Jeeter FC in the Tiki Taka Soccer League and training sessions at the UCLA campus, under the guidance of Ultrain Sports.

His time at UCLA continued on Tuesday, with Jones working alongside Everton winger Anthony Gordon in the LA sunshine.

The pair were pictured training with Ultrain Sports founder Darrius Marcellin and coaches Mo Ali Heydarpour and Akil Lwanga, the latter of whom also coaches Jeeter FC.

Marcellin has also worked with Burnley midfielder Josh Brownhill this summer, while Christian Pulisic is among those to have trained at UCLA during the off-season.

It is no surprise to see Jones link up with Gordon during their time off, with the pair having grown up together, including in their early years in the Liverpool academy.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, April 24, 2022: Liverpool's Trent Alexander Arnold tackles Everton’s Anthony Gordon during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Everton FC, the 240th Merseyside Derby, at Anfield. (Pic by Lindsey Parneby/Propaganda)

Gordon was released by Liverpool as an 11-year-old in 2012, but went on to join the Everton youth setup and has so far played 60 times for the first team.

He and Jones have been regularly adversaries through the years at academy level, but are yet to face off against each other at senior level – though that will likely change in the campaign ahead.

Liverpool are due to kick off pre-season at the AXA Training Centre on Monday, but it is clear that Jurgen Klopp‘s squad will return in already strong shape, with many documenting their fitness regime during the summer.

Jones could be among those involved from the first friendly against Man United on July 12, with the Reds heading on tour of the Far East to begin pre-season.