But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy for all the people: Today in the city of David is born the Messiah, the Christ, Lord. Luke 2:10-11′
Liverpool told signing Arsenal ace will guarantee Prem title, as Arteta warned he’d flounder without two stars
The Premier League title figҺt is heating up between Liverpool and Arsenal, with the Gunners taking first place at the end of the year.
Neither team was able to score a decisive goal in last Saturday’s tҺrilling 1-1 stalemate between the two clubs.
Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, William Saliba, and Gabriel Magalhaes—the four central defenders—were the ones most lauded after the game.
The bar was established by Declan Rice, though, says Danny Murphy, an ex-Liverpool and England midfielder.
Murphy urged any aspiring young midfielder to learn from the Gunners’ master in his Daily Mail column.
Last summer, Arsenal paid £105 million to acquire Rice from West Ham, setting a new club record. Although some were surprised by the high transfer fee, he has already proven to be worth it in Arsenal’s first five months with the club.
Murphy said that with Rice as their central midfield rock, Liverpool would be champions.
When the Reds bid £110 million for Moises Caicedo in the summer, they were trying to make a major splash at that position. However, Jurgen Klopp was able to sign Wataru Endo for a somewhat more modest £17 million after both he and Romeo Lavia managed to evade the Merseysiders.
Next on Murphy’s list of big names that Arsenal “cannot do without” was Saliba.
Rice amazes Murphy; Saliba will be Saliba’s No. 2 priorityPay attention to Declan Rice in this [Liverpool vs. Arsenal] match if you’re a young holding midfielder looking to enhance your game in every way, Murphy wrote. “What a remarkable man.
Mikel Arteta’s reliance on Rice and William Saliba was made quite clear to me in this game.
If he wants to win the Premier League, he needs those two players more than anything. You can take those two guys on the road to victory.
I also learned how much of a player he is that Liverpool could use after seeing that. I would have Liverpool winning the title if Rice had worn their shirt. He is quite skilled.
“His reading of the game, winning the ball, his positional play, keeping hold of the ball under pressure, playing through the lines, and his reading of the game” (Murphy said), hammering home the point that Rice is an exceptional player. All things considered, that was a masterful performance.
Liverpool will pay a heavy price for shaky away play?Murphy wrapped up by asserting that Liverpool can still win the Premier League title even without Rice as an engine room player.
Nevertheless, with no strong central figure, Murphy speculated that the Reds could strugglе in the challenging road games.
“In the Premier League and Europe, a physical presence and game intelligence from a midfielder like Rice — or Rodri for Man City — is so important. Liverpool can still win the title, but in the big games away from home in Europe, it’s crucial,” Murphy added.
“His impact on Arsenal is phenomenal.”
When playing tough road games this season, Liverpool has a dismal record.
Their current record in league matches against Chelsea, Newcastle, Tottenham, Brighton, and Manchester City is 1 victory, 3 draws, and 1 loss.
Liverpool’s chances of winning the Premier League for a second consecutive May may hinge heavily on their road visits to Old Trafford, the Emirates, and Villa Park in the second part of the season.