Steven Gerrard has admitted he 'wished Liverpool signed' Declan Rice before he moved to Arsenal.
Rice, 27, completed a club-record £105million transfer to the Gunners in July 2023 after impressing and making more than 200 senior appearances for West Ham.
And since his move to the Emirates Stadium, the England international has taken his game to the next level, and, according to Gerrard, become 'one of the best in the world'.
The midfielder has been an integral part of Mikel Arteta's side across the last two-and-a-half years, and none more so than this season as the Gunners push for the Premier League title.
Due to his standout and consistent performances, some are calling for Rice to be in the running for the Player of the Year.
But ex-Liverpool midfielder Gerrard is still disappointed the Reds didn't end up signing Rice before he went to Arsenal. After the Gunners beat Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League Round of 16 on Tuesday - a game in which Rice scored in - Gerrard told TNT Sports: "Winning the ball back, excellent finish, Declan Rice was Man of the Match and he is going from strength to strength as well."
When asked how highly he rated him, Gerrard replied: "He's one of the best in the world. It was a fantastic move for him, I wish we (Liverpool) signed him here actually.
"He did a good job under David Moyes at West Ham, he schooled him on how to play in the position tactically.
Liverpool have reached the UEFA Champions League round of 16 where they face Galatasaray on March 18. Fans can watch the game on the TNT Sports Prime Video channel.
"His confidence playing for England and being around that group of players. He has just gone to the next level now at Arsenal under Mikel Arteta, it has been fantastic coaching from him and he is up there now with a shout for the world's best in that position and in that role."
In the summer Arsenal signed Rice, Liverpool brought in Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo as the Reds revamped their midfield.
Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, Naby Keita, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, meanwhile, moved on to pastures new.
Szoboszlai, Mac Allister and Gravenberch have cemented themselves as key performers for the Reds since joining the club, and all three were integral in Liverpool's Premier League title win last season.
