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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Tashan Deniran-Alleyne

'Very close': Jamie Carragher disagrees with Gary Neville amid Arsenal and Chelsea debate

Jamie Carragher has explained why he believes Arsenal star Declan Rice just pips Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo as the best midfielder in the Premier League at present.

Both Rice and Caicedo were instrumental for their respective clubs at the weekend, opening the scoring en route to victories.

Rice netted against his former club West Ham, while Caicedo broke the deadlock with a stunning strike as Chelsea helped the Gunners stay top of the league by beating Liverpool.

Following the dramatic conclusion to events at Stamford Bridge, Gary Neville - speaking on his Sky Sports podcast - was full of praise for the Blues midfielder.

Neville said: “He’s the best midfield player in the league at this moment in time. And I think I’m comfortable saying that. Gravenberch last season, and maybe Declan Rice and Rodri obviously, for the last few years.

“But now, I think at this time, we can say that Caicedo is the best midfield player in the league, and he’s performing like that.”

However, Carragher disagreed with his Sky Sports pundit when weighing in on the debate during the new ‘Extra Time’ show on Sunday evening.

“Oh he is very close, he wouldn’t be the best for me,” Carragher stated.

“If you are talking all round midfielder, Declan Rice would just pip Caicedo for me, I think he’s just got a little bit of extra quality with the ball.

“But there’s no doubt, not just this season, if you think from Christmas onwards last season he was good as anybody.”

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