Steven Gerrard Admits Regret Over Liverpool Missing Out on "World Best" Arsenal Star Declan Rice

Steven Gerrard admits he wishes Liverpool had signed Declan Rice, praising the Arsenal star as one of the best midfielders in the world under Mikel Arteta.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 19, 2026, 5:41 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Football365

The One That Got Away for Anfield

The meteoric rise of Declan Rice at Arsenal has left one of Liverpool’s greatest-ever players reflecting on what might have been. Steven Gerrard, speaking in his capacity as a television pundit, recently confessed his desire to have seen Rice in a Liverpool shirt prior to his record-breaking move to North London. Since joining Arsenal from West Ham for £105 million in July 2023, Rice has become the fulcrum of a side that currently sits nine points clear at the summit of the Premier League. For Gerrard, the midfielder's transition from a West Ham standout to a global elite represents a missed opportunity for the recruitment team at Anfield.

Tactical Schooling Under Moyes and Arteta

Gerrard attributed Rice’s current world-class form to a combination of elite coaching and a high-performance environment. He noted that David Moyes provided the foundational tactical schooling at West Ham, teaching Rice the intricacies of the defensive midfield role. However, Gerrard believes that the move to Arsenal has acted as a catalyst, pushing the 27-year-old to the "next level" under the guidance of Mikel Arteta. This evolution has seen Rice transform from a traditional "anchor" into a dynamic box-to-box presence, a shift that Gerrard suggests has placed him firmly in the conversation for the best in the world in his position.

Surpassing Europe's Technical Elite

The praise for Rice was echoed by fellow former Red Steve McManaman, who compared the Arsenal star to continental counterparts like Pedri and Vitinha. While acknowledging the technical beauty of the Spanish and Portuguese midfielders, McManaman argued that Rice’s sheer effectiveness makes him the superior choice in modern football. This sentiment reflects a growing consensus that Rice’s physical presence combined with his refined technical ability provides a unique advantage in high-stakes European competition. According to McManaman, Rice was "amazing" last season, yet has managed to step up his levels once again during the current campaign.