Jamie Carragher has assessed Liverpool’s struggles this season and believes a new Declan Rice-type midfielder could help Arne Slott’s side bounce back next term.
Jayme Carragher waxes lyrical about Arsenal’s Declan Rice (Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC)
Jamie Carragher feels the most important thing for Liverpool to do next summer is to sign the right type of central midfielder, but they have already missed out on the perfect option in Declan Rice.
The Reds have endured a significant downturn this season after winning the Premier League title in Arne Slott’s first year in charge. They are currently in 6th place, 14 points behind league leaders Arsenal, and it is highly doubtful they will be able to retain their domestic title.
Some poor results and lackluster performances have led to much debate over Slott’s position, as well as scrutiny of the club’s summer transfer business, which has spent more than £450m on new signings, including more than £100m deals for Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak.
read more: Transfer News LIVE: Manchester United message to Palmer, open talks with Liverpool, latest information on Chelsea and Arsenalread more: Paul Scholes claims Arsenal will be the ‘worst team to ever win the Premier League’
Carragher believes the most important thing Liverpool can do in next summer’s transfer window is sign a midfielder to complement their current options. And he feels Rice, who has taken his game to new heights since joining Arsenal for £105m two-and-a-half years ago, is the blueprint to follow.
“Curtis Jones and Alexis Mac Allister are really good players, but at the end of the day you’ve got two or three players who aren’t as good physically,” Carragher told The Athletic. “The one thing that stands out to me every time I watch him play is Declan Rice. He’s an honest to God player. He’s exactly what Liverpool need. To me he’s a modern-day Roy Keane.”
Carragher believes Liverpool could also add more physicality to their midfield (Image: Sky Sports)
“I don’t think he was Stevie Gerrard, because Stevie was more attacking. Roy did a little bit of everything, the high press, winning the ball from the back four, everything. Declan also had set pieces. In fact, we still don’t give him enough credit. I feel like there’s always something to be desired about him. His passing is great. No one can get past him. His set-piece delivery is second to none in European football.”
Carragher went on to lament Liverpool’s failed attempt to sign Rice in the summer of 2023. It was at a time when the Reds were expected to revamp their midfielder following the departures of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho.
Liverpool manager Arne Slott has endured a tough season in his second year in charge (Image: Getty Images)
“Why didn’t Liverpool sign him?” he added. “My argument at the time was that instead of two players, we should get one player (Rice) because he can do both the Fabinho role and the high-pressing Henderson role that he’s showing at Arsenal. Oh my god, I wanted him in a Liverpool shirt.”
“For me, he’s the player of the year this year, especially if Arsenal win the league. Then he’ll get the real love he deserves and hopefully he’ll go to the World Cup and have a great tournament.”
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