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Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard has admitted the Reds should have tried to sign Declan Rice before Arsenal secured the midfielder for over £100million from West Ham in 2023
Steven Gerrard believes Declan Rice has stepped up to become world-class at Arsenal as he pondered over the midfielder's potential impact for Liverpool.
The England and Anfield icon was full of admiration for Rice and believes the Reds should have made a push to bring the 26-year-old to Merseyside before Arsenal swooped in. Arteta secured his signing from West Ham United in 2023, shortly after Rice helped the Hammers triumph in the UEFA Conference League, with the transfer fee exceeding £100million.
Liverpool were never strongly linked with a move for Rice, with Manchester United and Arsenal emerging as the leading contenders for his services.
Gerrard heaped praise on the Arsenal midfielder, suggesting he possesses all the attributes needed to excel in the heart of midfield.
Speaking on the Smith Brothers podcast, the former Liverpool captain said: "I love Declan Rice, I've been singing his praises for a long time. I coached Villa against West Ham before he went to Arsenal, I didn't realise how big he was because hadn't met him in person.
"You get in the tunnel and think, 'oh my god, that's some profile for a midfielder'.
"If you're building a midfielder, he's got a body to die for, if you're 6ft1in, 6ft2in, and have the legs, the power, that's the midfielder you want to be. He was calm in possession, an animal out of it, up and down, I really like him as a person as well.
"I think he's really getting into that class where he's becoming a world class midfielder. He's maybe one we should've tried to grab from West Ham, I don't know whether we did but imagine him in this midfield now."
This isn't the first occasion the 45-year-old has sung the England international's praises, having previously suggested Rice's switch to the Emirates has elevated his performances to another level.
"In the Premier League, I think Declan Rice is a really, really good midfielder," he said.
"I like an awful lot about him. I like the kid, I like his mentality, I like the way he's gone to the next level at Arsenal, he's adding different things to his game. I think he'd be a really tough, strong opponent, a good challenge."
Rice has popped up with some key moments in an Arsenal shirt, whether it is scoring or assisting from a dead-ball situation or defensive contributions, but he played a different role in their important 2-1 win over Brighton & Hove Albion.
Jurrien Timber missed the win after picking up an issue during their Carabao Cup win over Crystal Palace in midweek.
As a result, the 26-year-old was deployed at right-back and he received rave reviews from Arteta. The Spaniard said: "There are injuries with Jurrien, he landed awkwardly, and there’s something with Richy as well, very, very strange.
"But you speak to Declan and tell him he needs to play there as a right winger, and he said, ‘Okay, I’m up for the challenge, I’m going to do my best.’ That attitude is great to witness."
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