Steven Gerrard has hailed Curtis Jones as a more technically gifted player than he was and fully deserving of his regular first-team role under Arne Slot.
The local lad marked his 150th appearance for Liverpool in the thrilling 3-3 Premier League draw against Newcastle on Wednesday. Given how the 23-year-old has been integrated into Slot's plans, it's clear that his tally of appearances will continue to rise.
The midfielder has been instrumental in the Reds' last 11 league games, netting vital goals against Chelsea and Newcastle, and playing a key part in their flawless Champions League run. With Jones proving to be a revelation for the new Dutch manager, Gerrard confessed that his emergence has been long overdue, and believes that Jones possesses superior skills to the legend who once dazzled at Anfield.
"Curtis is more talented than me in terms of technical, in terms of dribbling ability, in terms of manipulating the ball, close control," Gerrard began, speaking 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 had his sights firmly set on a Merseyside derby victory before inclement weather led to the postponement of the game. Speaking before the delay, Jones expressed his unwavering competitive spirit to Liverpool, saying: "First things first, I just want to win.
Gerrard coached Jones at U18 level for the Reds
Gerrard coached Jones at U18 level for the Reds (Image: Getty Images)
“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.
"But 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."