‘Outstanding’: Ally McCoist says West Ham player was ‘Man of the Match’ against Liverpool despite defeat

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Ally McCoist named West Ham United captain Declan Rice as his player of the match in last night’s loss against Liverpool.

The Reds won 1-0 at Anfield thanks to a Darwin Nunez goal but the Hammers were perhaps good value for a point and missed a first-half penalty.

McCoist was the co-commentator on the game for Amazon Prime and was asked to name his man of the match going into stoppage time.

He said he usually goes for a player on the winning team but Rice was so good that he had to go for him instead in front of watching England manager Gareth Southgate.

Ally McCoist on Declan Rice

When asked for his man of the match, McCoist said: “You know something I don’t usually do, but I’m going to give it to somebody on the losing team.

“I’m doing to give it to Declan Rice who has been absolutely outstanding.

“I normally give man of the match to someone who was on the winning side but on this occasion I have absolutely no problem at all giving it to that fella who has been outstanding.

“(Gareth Southgate) has got to be delighted with that performance. Dear me.”

West Ham are improving after a slow start to the season and the same goes for Rice, who again performed immensely well on a huge stage.

Southgate is naming his provisional England squad for the World Cup this week and Rice is bound to be in it and will go to Qatar if he is fit.

Southgate of course also saw Jarrod Bowen miss from the spot and the wideman should be in the initial party but his selection in the final 26 is far less certain.