Pundit names the Arsenal player he wants to see so much more from against Liverpool

Add as preferred source on Google

Arsenal pundit Adrian Clarke has said he wants to see a lot more from star midfielder Declan Rice when they face Liverpool today.

The Gunners take on the Reds in FA Cup action in the next 15 minutes and are looking to progress to the next round.

Liverpool are without star men Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk and the Gunners will be hoping to capitalise on those two players being out.

However, to win the game, Arsenal need their top players on form. And former Gunner Clarke has said that he wants a lot more from Declan Rice, who he claims has been off his levels recently.

“We’re a little bit slack I think without the ball. Declan Rice, who probably hasn’t been at his best the last two games. We’ve loved Declan Rice all season, he’s been brilliant, but I think in the last two games he wasn’t quite at his brilliant best,” Clarke said.

Declan Rice has to dominate

There’s a lot riding on the £100m Arsenal man in midfield and against a Liverpool side who boast a wealth of talent in the middle, it’s going to be a big day for him.

Thankfully, Rice is more than good enough to deal with such big games and with a bit of luck – for Arsenal fans anyway – he’ll produce.

As Clarke says, his dip in performance level has coincided with Arsenal losing two games and he needs to be back at his best today.

If he is, then Arsenal can see off Liverpool and progress, especially with Salah and VVD missing.

Of course, if Rice is off his game again then Liverpool could cause serious issues here. Their midfielders are quality in their own right and Rice will need to play well, and get help from his teammates.

On his best day, though, the England man sails through today and produces the goods.