TalkSPORT pundit Jamie O’Hara has made the astonishing claim that Declan Rice is better than Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson.
It has emerged in the last few days that Rice might be ready to leave West Ham, with the Hammers valuing him at £150 million.
As a result, TalkSPORT did a piece on their show over who might try and sign him during the summer transfer window.
O’Hara believes that Rice walks into any team but a Liverpool fan took exception claiming that he’d struggle for a game at Anfield.
The former Tottenham midfielder doesn’t agree though; believing the 23-year-old is better than the Liverpool star.
He told TalkSPORT: “He gets in the Liverpool team. Come on! He’s better than Henderson.
“I know he’s won more, and I know he’s a great captain for Liverpool, but is he better than Declan Rice?
“Rice can do everything that Henderson can do.”
Whether Rice is on the radar of Liverpool remains to be seen; although it does perhaps seem unlikely at £150 million.
Liverpool have Henderson, Fabinho, Naby Keita and Thiago to choose from. That’s without including Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Curtis Jones, James Milner and Harvey Elliott who have all played in midfield this season.
Rice is heir to Henderson throne but he’s not better than the Liverpool star…yet
Make no mistake, Rice is well on course to be a better player than Henderson.
Right now, the talk of that is somewhat premature, however, and once again a pundit has undervalued the brilliance of Henderson.
It’s about time that more respect was placed on the Liverpool midfielder.
He’s been a regular in the Reds team for the best part of a decade and also became the first Liverpool captain to lift a Premier League title.
Henderson also has a Champions League winners medal and recently helped the club lift a second Carabao Cup since he arrived at Anfield.
Rice looks tailor-made to replace Henderson for England.
Both play in similar roles but for O’Hara to say he’d oust Henderson from the Liverpool midfield is just wrong.
Rice is a wonderful player and he’s set for the top, but the Liverpool captain deserves more respect.
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