There is nothing to hate with Declan Rice, but we need to apply a certain perspective before declaring it world class to mark two free kicks against Real Madrid.
He appears as a great guy, I like to hear him speak and he speaks with great honesty. I’m sure he’s a dream to have in the locker room, but I’m sorry, two wonderful free kicks don’t make you a great player.
We easily excite ourselves in this country, especially in the media, we are all guilty. Even if you win the FA Youth Cup, you are considered a “club legend”.
We are too fast to apply the status of “legend” or “world” on the back of emotional events. We have to calm down and not be ahead of ourselves.
We talked about a real world class player in Kevin de Bruyne last week and, elsewhere in my column today, I speak of other players of this level, but Declan is not yet there.
He seems to have a great attitude. It wouldn’t surprise me if he was the first on the training ground and last. I would not be surprised either if they should also hold it back, tell him to stop whipping the ball before he warmed up, for fear of injury. But it’s just his love for football.
Declan Rice’s free kicks do not make him a great player – he must be better in the last third

He has a great attitude, a talent and a physical presence but needs more goals and aid (kicks do not count!))

Rice is not at the level of a star like Kevin de Bruyne – Too many people are called “Worldlies”
I think it is part of this little minority, although it does not broadcast it, which would offer to play for free the game.
He is talented. At 6 feet 2 inches, he has a real physical presence, a formidable athlete who moves in the park, and you have it in your locker room every day of the week, but it is always short on the creative side that would raise him in the world class.
He has nine goals and nine assists for the club and the country and many assists to him are corner kicks. In my book, this is not a assist. This is the thing that he misses – being more cute and intelligent in the last third.
The challenge is now for him to continue and be better in this area.
Obviously, he worked hard in his game and improves. At 26, I never see this work ethics change in him either.
It is certainly a wonderful dead ball zone and that is why, despite an amount of 6 feet 2 inches, it is sacrificed for the sets because if not with this physique, it would be a wonderful air threat in the box.
The best lessee of a set I have ever seen was the Brazilian zico. I was able to witness this several times with the first hand, unfortunately.
In Liverpool, Jimmy Case and Sammy Lee were wonderful ball attackers.

The best free kicks I have ever seen was Zico for Brazil; He scored against Scotland in 1982

If you were not paying attention, Kenny Dalglish (in the center) would run and take your free kick in Liverpool! (Right: Souness; Left: Alan Hansen)
After Jimmy, it would be Sammy and I or Terry McDermott and I who would be the lenses of designated free kicks. We would often be joined by Kenny Dalglish who forever proposed to take the free kicks, but we also hunt him forever.
The only problem was that, if we turned his back briefly, Kenny would run and take it.
Many and many times, we said “What was the F ***?” And Kenny would raise his shoulders and move away, igniting. Typical Kenneth!
This is what makes PSG an excellent team
What is the quality of Paris St Germain?
It is so easy to be fascinated by their capacities on the ball and their rhythm, but by looking against Aston Villa, one thing jumped on me – they work their socks when they are out of possession.
It is always neglected by anoraks with their coaches’ books, their FA and boring lessons on the analysis of “football”. It is the most important factor in the professional game and it is your starting point.
Not only is PSG a good watch, but they are an excellent example for any young budding player. Forget the ability you have, your starting point must always be: working harder than the guy you face.
Collectively, individually, PSG is currently outside the graphics. And it’s nice to see that some things don’t change. Hard work has always been the mantra in Liverpool. You might have all the talent, but those that work the hardest gain the trophies. PSG is the perfect modern example.
When they sold Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid, many wrote them, but Luis Enrique made it a more talented group. I had to step back from time to time to check what I was looking at.
Aston Villa is a very good team, but Joao Neves, Vititinho and all the other players in their attack configuration put hard sites in the minute of possession changed hands.
It’s not over of course, but it will be extremely difficult for Villa to save this tie.
We saw how PSG, dragging from the first step, went to Anfield, which can be the most intimidating place, especially European evenings, and played without fear. The Holt End will do its best, but Villa will need a huge slice of luck.

I was very impressed by PSG’s work ethics against Aston Villa and they are an example for children

For all the talents they have, it is the hard work that will keep them the most

Luis Enrique forged a larger group after sold Kylian Mbappe. They look like a different team
Why am I for off-automated offside
Semi-automated offside will be introduced this weekend. Premier League jargon says that it will improve the speed, efficiency and consistency of the process …
Off-game calls are easy for our referees, it corrects the finest shades of our game with which they have problems. But any technology that improves decision -making and accelerates the process in which I am favorable.
No surprise with Mo and Virgile
There was no big surprise in Liverpool reaching an agreement on contracts for Mo Salah and Virgil Van Dijk this week.

I am not surprised to see Mo Salah sign a new case and Virgil van Dijk will progress towards one
I never believed that there were no conversations, but the games of the two players played it well.
The risk was that one or the other player had made a serious injury while exploiting his contract in the process, but thank God which did not happen. They held all the cards.
Negotiations were a precursor to what Donald Trump and China had to go through at the moment, but all parties must be satisfied with the figures.