Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice has shared a blunt assessment ahead of his team’s big match with Liverpool, admitting that facing their skipper is one of the toughest tasks in the Premier League.
Rice didn’t hold back when talking about Virgil van Dijk, the Liverpool centre-back who has frustrated attackers across England’s top flight. He described how difficult it has been to stop him and revealed that, even though he’d rather avoid going up against him again, he knows there’s no way around it this time.
Reflecting on their first encounter, Rice called it one of the most physically demanding battles he’s ever had on the pitch. Despite his own strong reputation, the Arsenal midfielder said Van Dijk’s ability to read the game, win duels, and match opponents stride for stride makes him a uniquely challenging adversary.
At 32, Van Dijk still anchors Liverpool’s defence under Arne Slot, offering leadership and tactical nous that make life hard for rival attackers. Rice’s candid remarks underline the respect — and wariness — many players feel when preparing to face him.
With both sides pushing for top honours this season, Thursday’s clash promises to be crucial — and Rice admits that testing himself against one of the league’s premier defenders is unavoidable, even if it’s not something he relishes.
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