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Curtis Jones has risked a backlash by claiming that Eden Hazard was a “better footballer” than his Liverpool team-mate Mohamed Salah.
In a refreshingly candid assessment, he admitted he would rather pay to see the former Chelsea star than Salah.
But he clarified that he thought Salah was more of a match-winner and later backtracked in a tweet when he posted a photo smiling with Salah and wrote: “The one I'd rather have in my team.”
Jones initially made his light-hearted comments in a TNT Sports interview with Rio Ferdinand and gave a deeply personal justification.
“I know this may seem a bit strange for our fans because the comparison is always there, but Hazard is the one,” he said.
'I know we compare him to Mo all the time and I've liked that with Mo.
“I've been playing it since I saw it as a kid, when I loved the game and wanted to be like a player.”
“I feel like it was Hazard. Every game I saw him and said, 'Wow, that's football.'
'Now, I wouldn't say they disrespect him, but he wouldn't get into certain conversations that he should.
'It's a conversation I've had with Mo and all the guys. As a footballer, is he better than Mo? In my opinion, yes. But who would you rather have on your team? They're going to say Mo because he gets you goals and assists.
Ferdinand added: “I would pay to go see Hazard first, but if I'm going to pick a team to win a game, I'll pick Salah.”
Jones responded: “Yeah, exactly, sure, it would be as simple as that.”
If Jones had made this comment about a decade ago, there would have been little backlash against him.
Hazard and Salah were teammates at Chelsea for two years and while the former was the king of Stamford Bridge, the latter was largely a supporting player.
But Salah's reputation arguably surpassed the Belgian's thanks to his heroics at Liverpool, while Hazard's struggles at Real Madrid in the final act of his career complicated his legacy.
Salah is now Liverpool's fourth all-time top scorer with 232 goals and has a realistic chance of making the podium this season.
The Egyptian won the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup and FA Community Shield while at Anfield.
Many also believe his form this campaign, which has seen him score 21 goals and register 17 assists, deserves to see him crowned Ballon d'Or winner if he can keep up the pace.
Hazard's list of honors is equally impressive, having won two Premier Leagues, two Europa Leagues, the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup with Chelsea, before winning every trophy available at Real Madrid, although he only played 76 times for them in four seasons. .
Both have won a Premier League Player of the Year award, but Salah leads Hazard 2-1 in the PFA Player of the Year and Football Writers' Association Player of the Year awards.
More to follow.