Curtis Jones was Liverpool’s Champions League hero in their 1-0 triumph over Ajax on Tuesday, with Owen Hargreaves comparing the teenager to Anfield legend Steven Gerrard after the game while speaking to BT Sport (1 December, 10.30pm).
There was certainly something familiar about the way the fresh-faced Scouser drifted unnoticed into the penalty area to score the only goal of the game against the Dutch giants.
After Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana misread a left-footed Neco Williams cross, Jones showed supreme composure to tap home first-time with the outside of his boot early in the second half.
That was his sixth goal in 25 games for Liverpool; five more than Gerrard himself managed during his teenage years.
“I think he’s pretty unique. Every time I watch him, I just think he’s got something quite special. He plays with a certain arrogance and confidence which I think you need,” said former Manchester United and Bayern Munich ace Hargreaves, who played with Gerrard for England.
“One thing he does really well is he arrives in the box at great moments. (He) reminds me of Stevie G – he’s always there in the right places.
“(The goal) sums him up really. That finish, the way he’s able to guide this in, that is class. For a 19-year-old to finish like that, it’s really unique.”
Jones certainly wasn’t the only Liverpool youngster who made his mark during a hard-thought 1-0 win which secured knock-out football for Jurgen Klopp’s side after the turn of the year.
After being picked ahead of the veteran Adrian, seldom-seen goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher produced a magnificent reflex save at the death to deny Klaas-Jan Hunterlaar what would have been a certain equaliser.
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