Liverpool vice-captain Trent Alexander-Arnold has praised Declan Rice and his Arsenal teammates for their success this season.
The Reds take on the Gunners on Saturday night in a blockbuster clash that will decide who sits top of the Premier League on Christmas Day. Arsenal are currently leading the table with 39 points, while Liverpool are third with 38 points and a slightly better goal difference.
After narrowly missing out on the title race last season, Arsenal have looked rejuvenated this season. Rice, the club’s record holder, has proven to be one of the best players in the Premier League since moving to London.
Ahead of Saturday’s game, Alexander-Arnold admitted he was impressed not only by Rice, but how Arsenal have adapted to scoring goals this season.”I think Rice has adapted and taken a step forward this season,” Alexander-Arnold said.
“They win in a very consistent and controlled way. That’s not how we win a lot of games. Some of our matches were in the last minute and we only went down to 10 men to win in a different way.”
I think they won in a different way. He played a big part in that. I shared the pitch with him in England and I know what he has to offer and what he brings to the team. You can see it in the way he plays. They ruin games, take out teams and do a lot of dirty work.
“They are a young and exciting team, they probably didn’t win a championship last year. It’s similar to that season where we beat City by a point.”These experiences teach you a lot. It teaches you how to win.
They have accepted last season’s results and that shows their consistency. It deserves to be near the top. We have. “It will be an interesting match,” he said.
Liverpool lost the lead after being held to a 0-0 draw by Manchester United last Sunday, but regained glory by beating West Ham United 5-1 in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals in midweek.
Meanwhile, Arsenal beat Brighton & Hove Albion 2-0 in their last Premier League game but head to Merseyside looking for their first win at Anfield since September 2012.
