Graeme Souness has launched a pointed critique of Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice, arguing that the Englishman's tendency to drop deep into defensive positions undermines his standing as a genuine midfield talent.
Rice was recently named Arsenal's Player of the Season for the second consecutive year, having played a central role in the club's Premier League title triumph. Despite that recognition, Souness remains unconvinced by what he has witnessed from Rice in the middle of the park.
Speaking to Piers Morgan on the Football Uncensored podcast, the former Liverpool player and manager questioned how often Rice actually operates as a true midfielder, suggesting he frequently retreats to become an auxiliary defender.
"How many times do you see him as the last man with the ball," Souness said. "In the build-up, he's last man. He's sitting between two centre-halves or between the centre-half and the full-back. He's last man. A lot of the time, he doesn't play in midfield."
Souness acknowledged Rice's defensive instincts but framed his positioning as symptomatic of a broader shift in how midfielders approach the game, one he views critically.
"He's the best defensive midfielder in the country right now, he smells danger. But then again, he's back there all the time," he said, before adding: "He's not a midfield player then is he? I think he may be a centre-half. The ball travels faster than you do. I see him run with the ball 30 yards and pass it square."
The Scot went further, describing the practice of midfielders dropping into the backline as an outdated tactic that has become fashionable again, recalling his own playing days when such a habit was frowned upon.
"In my second or third home game (of my career), I went into the back four like all midfield players do today. It's old man's football. It's cheating. An old man's way of playing midfield. You get the ball under no pressure and you play it out to the full-back," Souness explained.
He also took aim at the modern generation's response to criticism, suggesting today's players are less receptive to tough feedback than those of previous eras.
"Modern players are a bit precious. Criticism doesn't fall easily on these (players') shoulders. He isn't the complete midfield player," Souness said.
Rice's move to Arsenal from West Ham for £105million has widely been viewed as a transformative signing, with few questioning the fee given his impact on the team's rise from perennial challengers to Premier League champions. Souness, however, doubts whether Rice's style would translate to success at some of Europe's elite clubs.
"I'm not sure if he gets in Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Man City team," he said. "If you want the best in that position, City had two of them – Fernandinho and Rodri. They played in midfield."
Souness urged observers to pay closer attention to Rice's on-ball habits, insisting his passing choices reveal a lack of adventure compared to genuine progressive midfielders.
"Next time, please watch him. He goes in and gets it cheap under no pressure, a 10-yard pass off Gabriel, and passes it sideways," he concluded.
The comments add to an ongoing debate about Rice's best position and role, even as his club form and individual accolades continue to suggest otherwise to many observers.
Based on reporting from standard-football.