Steven Gerrard has lauded Liverpool star Curtis Jones, asserting that the midfielder is more technically gifted than himself. Jones, who is from Liverpool, marked his 150th game for the Reds in their recent 3-3 draw against Newcastle, and promises to feature in many more.
The 23-year-old has been instrumental in Liverpool's last 11 league matches, netting decisive goals against Chelsea and Newcastle, and playing a key role in the club's flawless Champions League run.
Gerrard, acknowledging Jones' impressive performance under the Dutch manager, confessed that the player's emergence was overdue and praised Jones as technically superior to himself during his Anfield days.
"Curtis is more talented than me in terms of technical, in terms of dribbling ability, in terms of manipulating the ball, close control," Gerrard admitted to The Anfield Wrap.
"He felt he was more than ready [to break through]. The academy felt he was ready and the first team were probably thinking yeah, he's ready to come and be a part of it but also to drop in and out.
"Every time Curtis played for me against Everton and Manchester United, he was the man of the match in every single game. That tells me that he's got what you need to play for Liverpool. He needs to stay in this 11 now. He needs to take the challenge on."
Jones was looking forward to the Merseyside derby with Everton on Saturday afternoon until adverse weather forecast forced its postponement. The 23-year-old, fueled by the unique intensity of local rivalries, admits such games bring out his best form, reports the Mirror.
"First things first, I just want to win," he told the club before the derby's postponement. "I'm a lad who hates to lose, I just want to win any game in training I want to win, in a small game with friends I want to win.
"But this game is one where you've got friends who are Everton fans, you've got family and stuff. It's always seen as a battle of the city. I'm not going to think about that it's the last one there and things like that it's with them and their fans and their history there. It doesn't really affect me.
"Any time that I play a game, I always want to win and especially around these, I want to win even more. I'd like to come away with three points and a good game."