Carragher insists Rice still the Premier League's best midfielder
Jamie Carragher has made clear where he stands on English football's hottest midfield debate. Despite Elliot Anderson's blistering start to life at Manchester City, the Liverpool legend believes Declan Rice remains the best midfielder in the Premier League.
Anderson's move from Nottingham Forest to City this summer has gone better than most could have predicted. City have won every match so far this season, and Anderson has been central to that start, culminating in a standout display in a 3-0 win over Liverpool at the weekend. He controlled the midfield battle and got the better of several established names, performances that have led some observers to rank him among the best midfielders in Europe.
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Carragher's verdict
Anderson and Rice are both current England internationals, which has only fuelled the comparisons between them. But speaking on Sky Sports, as relayed by the Metro, Carragher made his preference clear.
'You're now looking at arguably the best midfield player in the country alongside Declan Rice,' Carragher said. 'I would always put Declan Rice on top of that list, certainly at the end of last season when he helped Arsenal win the title.'
It's a notable show of faith from a pundit who spent his entire playing career at Anfield, and it speaks to how far Rice's stock has risen since his move to Arsenal. The fee the club paid to prise him away from West Ham United is rarely discussed as a point of contention anymore, a sign of how comfortably he has justified it through consistent performances in the biggest matches.
Rice's growing importance
Rice has become one of the first names on Arteta's team sheet, combining defensive discipline with a growing influence further up the pitch. His consistency across last season, including his role in Arsenal's title triumph, has cemented his reputation as one of the division's most complete midfielders.
There have also been reports of a new contract in the pipeline for Rice, reflecting the value the club places on him. Carragher suggested he would not be surprised to see Arsenal reward the midfielder with improved terms given his continued contributions.
Anderson's emergence at City adds an intriguing subplot to the Premier League midfield conversation this season, particularly with both players vying for places in the England set up. For now, though, Carragher's assessment places Rice firmly at the top of that list, with Anderson's early season form serving as the first serious challenge to that status.
Arsenal will hope Rice continues to deliver the kind of performances that keep him in that conversation as the season progresses.
