'I made mind up on Liverpool ace after Steven Gerrard chat – they've both proven me wrong'

Curtis Jones has been a standout performer for Liverpool so far this season, and his rapid rise has even surprised Anfield hero Didi Hamann, who admits he was wrong about the midfielder

Former Liverpool star Didi Hamann has confessed that he's been proven wrong by Curtis Jones, who has played a key role in the Reds' impressive start to the season.

Hamann, who won the Champions League in 2005 with the Reds, has expressed surprise at how Jones has defied his expectations. His doubts persisted despite club legend, and former Liverpool Under-18s coach, Steven Gerrard telling him that the youngster was a budding "superstar".

Jones has made his mark this season under Arne Slot's guidance, securing a place in Liverpool's starting lineup and contributing significantly with a goal and three assists. The young star's prowess hasn't gone unnoticed on the international stage either; he scored for England against Greece in the Nations League, and Hamann has now acknowledged his error in judgement.

"I've been watching Curtis Jones for a number of years now. He must have been in and around the team now for four or five years," Hamann said, speaking to Genting Casino. "I wasn't too sure whether he was capable of being a regular for Liverpool, but he's proved me completely wrong.

"He's 23 now. When I came into the first team at Bayern, I was 20. in Bayern Munich. Physically, I wasn't ready. I probably needed 12 months to get used to training, the pace of the game, everything. Jones has been excellent and that is also to do with his confidence. He probably didn't feel part of the team before because he was a bit-part player, but now we've seen the real Curtis Jones."

Jones made a major impact when he first burst onto the scene in the 2019/2020 season under Klopp, most notably for his match-winning strike in an FA Cup tie against city rivals Everton at Anfield. However, his quick development was nothing new to former midfielder Gerrard, who told Hamann of the talent Liverpool had in their ranks.

"Obviously, Steven Gerrard coached him in the academy. He's been a huge admirer of him, and he said to me years ago to watch this kid because he'll be a superstar," Hamann said. "Sometimes you've got to give people time, and more often than not, they don't get time at the giant clubs."

Now a steadfast presence in the Liverpool squad, Jones continues to impress, notching up five goals last term – his highest tally so far in the first team. The former German international now views Jones as potentially one of Liverpool's key players for the foreseeable future.

"You have to take your hat off to how Liverpool have managed him. There would have been numerous occasions where he could have gone on loan for 12 months, but they decided it was better for him to stay and continue his education at Liverpool. I think he could be a huge player, not only for Liverpool, but also for England.

"He set up a goal against Leverkusen (in the Champions League this season) where he played a through-ball. I don't think there's too many players in world football who would see the pass and would play the pass. It was absolutely sensational."

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