Michael Owen likens reported Liverpool target to Steven Gerrard

Former Liverpool striker Michael Owen has compared West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice to Reds legend Steven Gerrard. 

England came up against Hungary in Budapest yesterday and Rice started for Gareth Southgate's side.

Rice is naturally a holding midfielder, but Owen made it clear during Channel 4’s coverage of the aforementioned Nations League clash that he could see the 23-year-old impacting games the way that Gerrard did.

"That central midfield role is one of the most disciplined,” he said on, as quoted by The Express.

“I played with one of the very best in Steven Gerrard. He was actually a bit too good to sit there and be disciplined. It was a bit too exciting for him to see a chance to get forward. He was almost better than the central midfield role.

“He does show signs of a Steven Gerrard – big, powerful, long action, a brilliant passer of the ball. He's not just a central midfielder anymore. He breaks the game up so well, and now he's opening up and adding those long runs to his game, becoming an all-round player."

Anfield Watch Verdict

Rice is a terrific player. The midfielder averaged a WhoScored player rating of 7.10 across the 2021-22 Premier League campaign.

But, Rice will never be as good as Gerrard. The Scouser was a generational talent.

Gerrard scored 186 goals and registered 145 assists in 710 appearances for Liverpool's first-team. He also won nine major trophies with the Reds.

However, we can see where Owen is coming from. Rice certainly has the technical ability and physical presence to play that box-to-box role like Gerrard did.

Liverpool have been linked with a move for Rice. His contract expires at the conclusion of the 2023-24 campaign.

As we have pointed out, Rice possesses talent, so he would not be the worst addition to Liverpool's midfield.