Steven Gerrard had his share of memorable clashes with Arsenal during his time as a Liverpool player.
Widely considered one of the best midfielders ever, he often found it tough going up against Arsene Wenger’s sides in the middle of the park.
Over the years, he faced Patrick Vieira, Cesc Fabregas and Mesut Ozil, each presenting their own unique challenges on the pitch.
Now, Gerrard has named a current Arsenal player he thinks would have been especially difficult to play against.
Steven Gerrard shares his thoughts on Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice
Declan Rice has made a big impact at Arsenal since moving over from West Ham United.
The England midfielder has been a consistent performer for the Gunners and played a crucial role in their Champions League win over Real Madrid last season.
Rice was already highly regarded during his time with the Hammers, but Steven Gerrard believes he has taken another step forward since joining Mikel Arteta’s side.
Speaking on Rio Ferdinand’s podcast, Gerrard was asked to pick a current midfielder he admires.
“In the Premier League, I think Declan Rice is a really, really good midfielder,” the Liverpool icon said.
He added: “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, good challenge.”
Declan Rice could achieve something at Arsenal that Steven Gerrard never did for Liverpool
Gerrard’s time at Liverpool is still remembered fondly by fans, and with good reason.
The midfielder played a key role in some huge moments for the club, though he never managed to claim a Premier League title during his career.
That is a fate Rice does not want to follow. Arsenal are in a strong position this season, and if they do go on to lift the trophy, it would be an achievement that eluded Gerrard during his playing days.
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