Declan Rice calls tune for Arsenal but he can't do it all on his own

Powerhouse midfielder covered vast amounts of ground at Anfield and Jürgen Klopp was quick to acknowledge Rice's role in denying his team the three points

RESPECT: Klopp with Declan Rice after the titanic tussle at Anfield.

Critics of Declan Rice, sceptics, non-believers – because this is football and there must always, always be critics – have accused him in the past of cruising through matches. Well, not here.

Rice must have hated this game at times. Or at least, must have felt like he could barely breathe in those periods where he seemed to be playing three or four positions simultaneously, always harried, always pressed, trying to fill the roles of defensive shield, romping ball-carrier, auxiliary left-back, rondo-leader between the centre‑halves.