Curtis Jones risked angering Liverpool fans by suggesting that former Chelsea star Eden Hazard is a better footballer than current team-mate Mohamed Salah.
Salah is having one of the best seasons of all time, putting up incredible numbers as Liverpool lead both the Premier League and the Champions League.
But Jones admitted he grew up watching Hazard and found more joy watching the Belgian, although he also admitted Salah is the player he would rather have in his squad.
“I know we compare him to Mo all the time and I was in it with Mo. I play it from him, who I saw as a kid when I loved the game and wanted to be like a player. I feel like he was danger. Every game, I would watch it… ‘wow, that’s football.’
“I wouldn’t say he’s disrespected, but he wouldn’t get into certain conversations that he should,” Liverpool’s homegrown player said of Hazard at the time, referring to his career ends disappointingly prematurely after the disastrous record transfer to Real Madrid.
“That’s a conversation I’ve had with Mo and all the lads. As a footballer, is he better than Mo? In my opinion, yes. But who would you rather have in your team? He’ll say Mo because he gives you goals and assists.”
When Ferdinand clarified that he would rather watch Hazard but put Salah in a winning team, Jones agreed: “Yeah, right, sure, it’s as simple as that.”
Even with that clarification, Jones was criticized Liverpool fans on social media for speaking so highly of someone else in direct comparison to his own colleague. The 23-year-old continued to post X himself, pointing out that he would still prefer to play with Salah.
Along with Salah’s picture, he wrote; “The one I’d rather have on my team.”
The one I’d rather have on my team 😁 pic.twitter.com/Eb7ugwubdY
— Curtis Jones (@curtisjr_10) January 20, 2025
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