One midfield star continues to impress for Liverpool under Arne Slot, and Steven Gerrard has gone as far as stating the 23-year-old is more gifted than he ever was
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Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones
Curtis Jones has been handed high praise from Steven Gerrard
(Image: MI News/NurPhoto)
Steven Gerrard has hailed Curtis Jones as more technically gifted than himself. The Liverpool icon also said Jones is deserving of his current spot in Arne Slot's first-team lineup.Jones marked his 150th appearance for Liverpool in their 3-3 draw with Newcastle on Wednesday, and with the manner in which the 23-year-old has been developing, it's possible he could feature in the Reds' strongest XI for some time to come.
The midfielder has played a major part in Liverpool's impressive Premier League campaign so far, netting vital goals against Chelsea and the Magpies. He's also been pivotal in the club's flawless Champions League run.
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With Jones proving a revelation for the Reds' new Dutch manager, Gerrard acknowledged that the young star's emergence has been long overdue. The ex-Liverpool captain coached Jones at U18 level for the club and he believes that the player possesses an ability that even surpasses his.
"Curtis is more talented than me in terms of technical, in terms of dribbling ability, in terms of manipulating the ball, close control," Gerrard said in a chat with 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."
Steven Gerrard talks to Curtis Jones (right) during the Derby County v Liverpool U18 Premier League game at the Derby County Academy on August 11, 2017
Gerrard coached Jones at U18 level for the Reds(Image: Photo by Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Next on Jones' schedule was a Merseyside derby against the Toffees on Saturday afternoon; however, inclement weather conditions led to the postponement of the highly anticipated game. Still, as Gerrard suggested, these games that are charged with an underlying animosity appear to bring out the best in the Toxteth-born star, as per the Mirror.
"First things first, I just want to win," Jones said to Liverpool regarding his thoughts on the derby before its delay. 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."