Souness Criticizes Rice’s Positioning Again: He Often Does Not Play in Midfield

Graeme Souness has once again criticized Declan Rice, although the Arsenal midfielder continues to play a key role in the team’s perfect Premier League start to the new season. Rice helped Arsenal beat Chelsea 2-1 on Sunday, but Souness remains unconvinced by the England international’s positioning.

"He often does not play in midfield."

The former Liverpool captain believes Rice drops too deep when Arsenal build attacks, limiting his ability to influence matches in more advanced areas. On Piers Morgan’s "Uncensored Football" program, Souness said Rice too often positions himself alongside Arsenal’s defenders rather than taking responsibility in midfield.

"How many times have you seen him receive the ball as the last man," Souness told Morgan. "When building attacks, he is the last man. He sits between the two centre-backs, or between a centre-back and a full-back. He is the last man. Many times, he simply does not play in midfield."

Souness also referred to his own playing experience: "In the second or third home game of my career, I dropped into the back four like all midfielders do today. That is old-man football. That is cheating. It is an old-man way of playing midfield. You receive the ball without pressure and then pass it to the full-back."

"The best defensive midfielder, but always staying at the back."

Souness acknowledged Rice’s defensive ability but remained doubtful about his overall influence. "He plays too deep to affect the game," Souness continued. "I don’t think there is enough football content there. Let me tell you what he can do. He is the best defensive midfielder in this country at the moment, he can sense danger. But having said that, he stays at the back all the time."

Opta Analyst pointed out that Arsenal have the ability to control games through midfield, with Rice being central to the team’s pressing structure and defensive protection.