Steven Gerrard spoke about Neco Williams before Liverpool snatched a 2-2 draw against Nottingham Forest
Steven Gerrard
Steven Gerrard spoke out on a player Liverpool sold(Image: (Oli SCARFF / AFP via Getty Images))
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Steven Gerrard has told Liverpool they made a mistake selling Neco Williams to Nottingham Forest four years ago. Williams joined Forest from Liverpool in July 2022 for a fee of £12m and has made over 150 appearances for the club.
Gerrard managed Williams at the youth team level at Liverpool, and the two were reunited ahead of the Reds’ 2-2 Premier League draw against Forest at Anfield on Saturday. And asked if he recognised what a talent Williams was at the time, Gerrard said: "I did actually, and I told him.
“I told his parents they had an incredible talent and an incredible human being. He's an example to any young boy chasing a dream. He wanted it to be here at Liverpool initially but he got the setback that he had to move.
"What he's done is grabbed that opportunity with both hands. He's grown, he's evolved and he's arguably one of the best full-backs in the league in my opinion."
As Williams praised the influence Gerrard had on him as a youngster, Gerrard interjected, adding: "I don't want to cut him off but this is a player that trains how he plays. He comes in of a morning, he does everything right, he's very professional. He's a winner, very aggressive, he's a competitor and we already know he has got the talent.
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"If you put everything around your talent, you can play at this level and you can stay at this level. I still think he hasn't reached his ceiling yet. I think he's at an age where he can go to the next level with experience and more time and more games.
"He's playing out of position, doing an incredible job on the left side. Can you imagine what he'd be like on the right side? For me, he's a fantastic full-back.
"I'm not just saying it, and I apologise to the Forest fans, but Liverpool should have kept him."
Neco Williams in action against Liverpool
Steven Gerrard lavished praise on Neco Williams(Image: ( Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images))
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Williams is in talks over a new deal at the City Ground, but a number of Forest's top-flight rivals are keen on the 25-year-old. Manchester United and Newcastle United are among those claimed to be interested in the Wales international.
But when asked about transfer speculation, Williams told TNT Sports: "You're trying to stitch me up there. Listen, every day I'm focused on the badge I'm wearing right now.
"Of course, it's nice to see that there's interest and teams showing interest, but I'm a Nottingham Forest player and fully focused on what I'm doing here. Every day is showing full commitment and giving my best to help this team."
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