Steven Gerrard‘s vast influence on Curtis Jones isn’t lost on the Liverpool midfielder, who has called him a “huge part of my career and life.”
Jones is enjoying one of his most impressive runs of form for the Reds, shining in the wins over Inter Milan and Brighton.
Speaking to LFCTV after last Saturday’s 2-0 victory at home to the Seagulls, the 24-year-old made it clear how big an influence Gerrard has been on him.
“Steven Gerrard has obviously been a huge part of my career and life,” Jones said.
“I say life because he was probably the first man to really have a pop at me at the academy and just changed me to think, ‘Yeah, I’m not better than anybody else’.
“It was a reality check, in terms of how I played and the role that he gave me.
“Steven would be the first to say that once I overcame a thing where I complicate things and thought I was the man because I had a No. 10 on my back and things like that, I’d be the first man he’d pick on his team.
“That came with him. I’d always been a kid that was top of the age group, and at times I’d become a little bit passive, and Steven was the first one to give me a real, real check.
“Coming from a man like him who I idolised, I thought, ‘I’ve got to change if it’s him that’s telling me’.
“From there, he stuck with me and I stuck with him and we worked.
“A year after, I’m around the first team and I’m stood here now on 200 games, so he’s obviously a man that I’d like to thank as well.”
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Curtis Jones primed for big next step at Liverpool?
Jones’ talent has never been in question, but to some, he is a player who has flattered to deceive too often, struggling to nail down a starting berth.
But there are signs of growing leadership and consistency, coinciding with the birth of his first child last year, with the midfielder ready to become an indispensable figure.
That won’t be easy, considering Jones is competing with the likes of Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, but he is performing at an elite level currently.
He now has to produce this form for months rather than weeks, and stay injury-free, which has been an issue throughout his career.
The fact that Gerrard rates Jones so highly speaks volumes coming from a legend of the game, though – he has said he can become the “Scouse heartbeat” for the Reds.
The current signs are only positive and Jones feels undroppable ahead of Saturday’s trip to Tottenham, and the home games against Wolves and Leeds that follow.