“Gerrard Wanted Liverpool to Snap Up Arsenal’s ‘World-Class’ Midfield Beast”

Few scouts in football can match the insight of former players, and Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard is a prime example. The English midfielder enjoyed a decorated career, famously captaining the Reds to Champions League glory in the Miracle of Istanbul.

After retiring, Gerrard moved into management, but his coaching career has not mirrored the highs of his playing days. His sole Premier League stint came with Aston Villa, where challenges often outweighed successes.

At 45, Gerrard was once considered a potential successor to Jurgen Klopp at Anfield and still retains a close connection to Liverpool. His fondness for the club is evident in his regret over Liverpool missing out on an Arsenal star who is now pivotal in this season’s title race.

Gerrard’s Admiration for Declan Rice
During his 11 months at Villa, Gerrard observed emerging English talents and singled out Declan Rice as a midfielder reminiscent of his own all-around style. Rice has impressed this season with Arsenal, excelling in set-pieces and consistently delivering top-tier performances.
On The Smith Bros podcast, Gerrard praised Rice:

“I love Declan Rice; I’ve been singing his praises for a long time. I coached Villa against West Ham before he moved to Arsenal, and I didn’t realize his size until I met him in person.”
He also highlighted Rice’s physical attributes:

“If you’re building a midfielder, he’s got the body for it—6ft1in, 6ft2in, strong legs, power. Calm on the ball, relentless off it, up and down the pitch. I really like him as a person as well.”
Gerrard admitted he wished Liverpool had acted sooner:

“He’s becoming a world-class midfielder. Perhaps we should have tried to sign him from West Ham. Imagine him in our midfield now.”

Liverpool’s Missed Opportunity
Rice was one of the Premier League’s most sought-after players in the summer of 2023, with Arsenal securing him for a club-record £105 million after his Europa Conference League success with West Ham. Liverpool, meanwhile, opted to bolster their midfield with Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch, and Dominik Szoboszlai following Fabinho’s departure.

Reports had suggested Jurgen Klopp had identified Rice as a top target, but financial hurdles prevented a move. After Rice joined Arsenal, Klopp expressed admiration for him ahead of a December 2023 clash:

“They’re consistent, physically strong, and with Declan in the team, they didn’t get worse, let me say it like that.”

Rice’s dominant performances, including in the Champions League against Real Madrid, validate Gerrard’s praise. The former Liverpool captain may well wonder whether Klopp’s side would have been in an even stronger position if they had secured Rice before Arsenal.