Steven Gerrard has spoken, and when he speaks about midfielders, the whole football world listens. This is not just any opinion from just any pundit. This is Steven Gerrard, the man who carried Liverpool for more than a decade, the man who defined what it means to be a modern midfielder, the man whose name is etched into Premier League history. When he looks at players in the centre of the pitch, when he analyses talent, grit, vision, and leadership, his words carry a weight that few can ignore. And now, Gerrard has set the football conversation on fire by boldly declaring that Alexis Mac Allister is better than Declan Rice.
It’s a statement that has sent shockwaves not only through Liverpool and Arsenal fans but also across the entire football community. Because Rice, the England international, the £100m man, the Arsenal heartbeat, has been spoken of as one of the very best in the world. Yet Gerrard, who knows a world-class midfielder when he sees one, insists that Liverpool’s Argentine magician edges him. And what makes this claim even more powerful is that Mac Allister cost less than a third of Rice’s fee. Thirty-five million pounds versus one hundred million. Bargain versus blockbuster. Yet Gerrard sees more class, more subtle brilliance, and more influence in Mac Allister than in the player Arsenal fans sing about every week.
Liverpool fans are buzzing with pride at these words. It’s one thing to rate Mac Allister highly. It’s another to hear Steven Gerrard himself say it. The Anfield faithful know what Gerrard meant to their club. He was the leader, the fighter, the player who dragged Liverpool to victory even when all hope seemed lost. For him to put Mac Allister on such a pedestal is not just praise; it is an endorsement that could define how the world views the Argentine going forward.
But this is not just about Gerrard’s words. This is about what we have seen from Mac Allister since he joined Liverpool. From the moment he arrived from Brighton, there was excitement. The World Cup winner brought with him intelligence, composure, and technical brilliance. Yet even the most optimistic Liverpool fans did not expect him to adapt so quickly, to become such a key figure in Arne Slot’s system, to boss games in a way that makes defenders panic and forwards trust that the ball will always find its way to them.
Mac Allister has become the heartbeat of Liverpool’s midfield, and Gerrard has spotted it. His ability to defend when needed, to shield the backline, to win the ball in dangerous areas, and then instantly switch play into attack is what sets him apart. It’s what makes him invaluable. While Rice is powerful, physical, and commanding, Gerrard clearly sees something more refined in Mac Allister—something that makes him not only effective but also elegant.
The fact that Gerrard chose to make this statement on the popular “winner stays on” trend on TikTok only added more fuel to the fire. Social media erupted. Every time a player’s name came up, Gerrard had to pick who was better. Mac Allister kept winning. One by one, the big names fell. Moisés Caicedo? Gerrard chose Mac Allister. Bruno Guimaraes? Gerrard chose Mac Allister. Enzo Fernández? Gerrard chose Mac Allister. Even Ryan Gravenberch, Mac Allister’s current teammate at Liverpool, was edged out in Gerrard’s eyes. And then came the big one—Declan Rice. Gerrard didn’t hesitate. He picked Mac Allister.
For Arsenal fans, it was like a dagger. Rice has been their pride, their symbol of ambition, their record-breaking signing who they believe will lead them to titles. To hear Gerrard say Mac Allister is better is something that cuts deep. For Liverpool fans, however, it was like sweet music. A legend declaring that their midfielder is superior to Arsenal’s crown jewel has given them bragging rights, and they are not letting it go.
The debate is now raging everywhere. Pundits are weighing in, fans are arguing on social media, and comparisons are being made. Rice is dominant in his own way, strong in duels, relentless in pressing, and a natural leader. But Mac Allister offers something different—creativity, intelligence, subtlety, and a passing range that unlocks defences. He can control the tempo of a match, and he can switch roles seamlessly, from defensive anchor to attacking playmaker. It is this versatility, this ability to do it all, that Gerrard clearly values so highly.
And let’s not forget the price tags. Rice at £100m. Mac Allister at £35m. The gap is enormous, yet their performances have not shown such a difference. In fact, many argue that Mac Allister has been more consistent, more reliable, and more impactful in big moments. For Liverpool, it feels like daylight robbery. For Arsenal, it feels like a challenge to their pride.
But Gerrard’s words also come with a warning for Liverpool. When a legend says a player is world-class, when he puts him above names like Rice, Caicedo, and Enzo, the whole world takes notice. And the world is already watching Mac Allister. Real Madrid, always hungry for midfield maestros, have had their eyes on him. They may have paused their interest for now, but they rarely forget. Mac Allister has that Madrid aura about him, the kind of player who looks destined to one day wear white at the Bernabéu. Gerrard’s comments will only make them more interested.
Liverpool know this. They know keeping hold of Mac Allister will be a battle. Every time he shines, every time he controls a match, every time he proves Gerrard right, the sharks circle closer. Slot may be building something beautiful at Anfield, but he also knows that world-class players attract world-class clubs with deep pockets. For now, Liverpool fans can enjoy their Argentine star. But deep down, they fear the day when the big offers come, when the lure of Spain or even a monster Premier League bid could test Mac Allister’s loyalty.
Still, Gerrard’s faith is a massive boost. For Mac Allister himself, it must feel surreal. To be compared to Rice is already a compliment. To be placed above him by a Liverpool icon is something else entirely. It cements his place not just as a good signing, but as one of the bargains of the decade, one of the smartest moves Liverpool have made in years.
And let’s not forget the ripple effect this has on the squad. When a legend praises one of your teammates so highly, it lifts everyone. It gives confidence, it boosts morale, and it makes players believe they are part of something special. Slot will love it. He wants his players to be fearless, to feel like they are the best, to go into every game with belief. Gerrard’s words play right into that mentality.
But make no mistake, this story is not over. The debate will rage on. Arsenal fans will defend Rice with passion, pointing to his leadership, his defensive solidity, his role in driving their team forward. Liverpool fans will hold up Mac Allister, the £35m genius who does it all, who now has Gerrard’s seal of approval. Every time these two players face each other, the cameras will zoom in, the pundits will remind us, and Gerrard’s words will echo. Who is truly better? Rice or Mac Allister?
In truth, football is not always about who is better. It is about who fits better, who shines brighter in the moment, who delivers when it matters most. But for now, the story belongs to Mac Allister. He is the man Gerrard picked, the man Liverpool fans adore, the man rivals are starting to fear. He is not just part of Liverpool’s midfield. He is the heartbeat of it.
And perhaps that is what Gerrard sees. He sees himself in Mac Allister. Not in style—because Gerrard was thunder and fire while Mac Allister is calm and precise—but in influence, in importance, in the way a team looks lost without him. Gerrard knows what it means to carry that weight, and now he believes Mac Allister is doing it for Liverpool.
So the debate continues, louder than ever, fiercer than ever. Gerrard has lit the spark, and the fire is burning across the Premier League. Rice versus Mac Allister. Arsenal versus Liverpool. Pride versus value. Power versus elegance. And in the middle of it all, a World Cup-winning Argentine who is proving, game after game, that sometimes bargains shine brighter than blockbusters.
For Liverpool fans, the message is clear: cherish him while he is here. For Arsenal fans, the challenge is set: prove Gerrard wrong. And for Mac Allister himself, the path is before him: to keep proving that he belongs not just among the best, but above them.
