Curtis Jones lights Liverpool touchpaper by dubbing Chelsea idol 'better than Mo Salah'
Curtis Jones has risked the wrath of Liverpool fans by declaring that Eden Hazard was BETTER than Mo Salah.
The Reds playmaker, who came through the youth system at Anfield, made the shock claim in an interview with Rio Ferdinand. Jones was quizzed on TNT's Behind The Lines show about the players he's looked up to for inspiration, originally referencing Zinedine Zidane.
The 23-year-old also heaped praise on legendary midfielder Steven Gerrard but admitted former Chelsea favourite Hazard was his ultimate hero. Jones then raised eyebrows by confessing he would have the Belgian in his prime ahead of his Liverpool teammate Salah.
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He said: "I like to watch other players. Older players, the likes of Zidane, he’s the one for me, and for everybody. More than just goals and assists, the stuff he does on the pitch, his composure, he’s never rushed. My one, and I know this could go a bit left with our fans because the comparison is there, but Hazard. Hazard is the one, I know he’s compared to Mo all the time, and I’ve been into it with Mo.
"I say as a player I saw from when I was a kid, Hazard was the one, every game I’d watch and I’d say that’s football. Now, he’s disrespected, he’s not in certain talks that he should. As a footballer, is he better than Mo? In my opinion, yes, but who would you rather have in your team? Mo because he gets goals and assists."
While two-time Premier League winner Hazard was a sensation at Stamford Bridge, he never produced the kind of numbers that the Egyptian King does. Hazard's best year in front of goal saw him score 21 times - 23 fewer than Salah's best total. Now retired, the 34-year-old's career fell off a cliff when he left Chelsea for Real Madrid in 2019.
The wideman struggled for fitness and form throughout his four seasons in Spain before eventually hanging up the boots in 2023. Meanwhile, 32-year-old Salah is at the peak of his powers as he continues to hit new heights at Anfield, with a Ballon D'or potentially in his sights.
