MURPHY: If Rice played for Liverpool they would be Premier League champions

If there’s any young holding midfielder out there who wants to learn how to improve every aspect of their game, watch this match and follow Declan Rice. He was sensational.

This game showed me just how important Rice — and also William Saliba — are for Mikel Arteta. They are the two players he cannot do without if they are going to win the Premier League. With those two players in the side, they can get a result anywhere.

It also made me realise how much Liverpool need a player like him. If Rice wore a Liverpool shirt, I think they win the title. He’s that good.

He was phenomenal last night, in every aspect. His reading of the game, winning the ball, his positional play, keeping hold of the ball under pressure, playing through the lines. It was an all-round brilliant display.

I was just surprised with how few plaudits he got during the game from Sky’s co-commentators Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher — probably because the former defenders were busy drooling over Saliba and Virgil van Dijk!

Liverpool can still win the title but in the big games away from home, in Europe, a midfielder with the physical presence and game intelligence like Rice — or like Rodri for Man City — is so important both in the Premier League and Europe. The difference he has made to Arsenal is incredible.

It will be Gunners, though, who will be the happier of the two teams after what was a terrific game. Both sides proved they are the real deal, especially in defence.

Saliba and Gabriel were imperious for Arsenal and, while Van Dijk is always a rock for Liverpool, I thought Ibrahim Konate had his best game of the season.

Ironically, for two sides renowned for their attacking creativity and flair, both lacked a bit of quality in the final third,