Declan Rice has admitted to being in awe of Liverpool playmaker Thiago Alcantara.
The Spaniard has faced scrutiny in recent weeks following his return from injury in the midst of the Reds' recent title-challenge collapse.
With outsiders claiming he is not suited to his new side's style, he has not enjoyed the start to his Anfield career he would have envisaged when signing for Jurgen Klopp 's side from Bayern Munich in a £25m deal last summer.
Top of the table on New Year's Day, Liverpool have since dropped to fourth having lost five of their last eight Premier League matches, including their last three.
Having lost to Leicester City on Saturday, a game which saw Thiago benched, they could drop further to as low as sixth should Chelsea beat Newcastle and West Ham defeat Sheffield United on Monday.
The Reds' last victory actually came against the Hammers at the end of last month.
And West Ham star Rice has praised Thiago despite his challenging start to life in England.
“When I played against Thiago the other day for Liverpool, obviously he is a holding midfielder, it was a big lesson," the England international told BBC Radio Five Live. "He ran the game.
"The ball was like on a string. It was like he dictated the tempo of the game and he has been there and done it.”
