Jamie Carragher believes Arsenal’s summer signing, Declan Rice could have the same effect at Emirates as Virgil Van Dijk’s Liverpool spell.
The Dutchman arrived at Anfield in January of 2018 for a record fee of £75m from Southampton. Liverpool were in a defensive crisis until his arrival under Klopp.
Report: Liverpool about to sign a giant 6ft 5in centre-back from league leaders in January
The 32-year-old has since brought stability to the Merseysiders, while winning the UCL, PL, and Carabao Cup. His first full season will go down as one of the greatest ever individual seasons produced by a player.
Moreover, he even finished second to Lionel Messi in the Ballon d’Or standing. It was one of the closest battles of this decade with the duo being separated by only 7 points.
Liverpool’s No.4 of course suffered a devastating injury blow during the 2020/21 season to halt his progress.
However, the Champions League winner has since bounced back from his setback and looks to be back at his best this season.
Brazilian’s agents are now travelling to England after claims that he is signing for Liverpool
Carragher insists Arsenal have signed their own Virgil Van Dijk of Liverpool
Jamie Carragher, Liverpool legend, suggested that the league leaders have signed their own Virgil van Dijk in Declan Rice.
The Englishman’s impact at the Emirates has been obvious as he recently scored a winner to help the Gunners maintain 1st place.
Report: Liverpool to make £30m move for Wolfsburg’s defender this January
While writing to Telegraph, Carragher wrote how he feels about Declan Rice.
“Watching Rice reminds me of when I was coming through the academy at Liverpool. We were always told to put pace on our passes, to fizz the ball into the feet of our team-mates. Rice does that — he punches it into his team-mates. It sets the tone for everything else.
As was always the case with Steven Gerrard at Liverpool, it feels inevitable that Rice will one day captain Arsenal. With Gerrard, all the players in the Liverpool squad knew that his time would come. I expect it is the same at Arsenal, and probably with England – although he may be in a battle with Bellingham to one day replace Kane as captain.
For Arsenal, the move for Rice was a no-brainer. I believe we will be talking about him as an Arsenal great in seven or eight years, and that his £105m fee will look like a snip. Ultimately, he could be for Arsenal what Virgil van Dijk has been for Liverpool. Van Dijk cost £75m but, after everything he has achieved at Anfield, that fee is rightly regarded as a bargain.”
With Liverpool and Arsenal battling for the first spot right now, Van Dijk and Declan Rice will be battling it for the first place. Moreover, as Klopp said, Manchester City cannot be ruled out of the title race.
I’m a football enthusiast and an avid writer and someone who lives by the Bill Shankly quote, on a day to day basis.
