05 February 2024 , 10:56
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Declan Rice admitted that Liverpool have been the "best team in the league" after Arsenal downed them on Sunday.
The Gunners roared back into the Premier League title race with a 3-1 victory at the Emirates, cutting the gap to the Reds to just two points. Liverpool had only lost once this term, which was also in north London when Tottenham secured a controversial victory.
Jurgen Klopp's side have hit impressive form recently, taking apart Chelsea just days before their trip to the capital. Against Arsenal though they were second best for much of the contest as Mikel Arteta's outfit underlined their own title credentials with a stellar performance.
Rice told Bein Sports on Liverpool: “They have been the best team in the league if you look on paper and statistically, this is only their second loss today. We knew how big today was going into the game, the momentum needed from everyone, staff, players and fans and it transmitted on to the field today. You could see for 90 minutes it was a team that would do anything to win a football match. In the end, we came out victorious and it is a very good feeling all round.”
Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard scored second-half goals to take the game away from Liverpool with the game finely balanced at half-time. Arsenal had bossed the opening 45 minutes and took the lead through Bukayo Saka before a defensive mix-up allowed the visitors a route back in.
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Rice commented on how the team's leaders ensured their late blow, with Liverpool scoring in first-half stoppage time, didn't derail them as they came back out to secure the three points.
Declan Rice helped Arsenal see off LiverpoolHe added: “We’ve got some great characters in the team who were pushing on, driving on at half time that it wasn’t a moment to let our heads drop. We couldn’t let one moment of a lack in concentration affect what we’d done for that 45. We knew in the second half it was going to be a tough game but, in the end, we gave it everything and we got the three points which was massive for us."
Arsenal's next assignment is a trip to West Ham United - a side who beat them over the festive period. They've now faced Liverpool twice this term and Manchester City once with a game at the Etihad to come on March 30, which could prove title defining.