Forget Steven Gerrard because West Ham ace Declan Rice seriously reminds David Moyes of a current Liverpool star and underdog.
Comparisons between West Ham talisman Rice and legendary Liverpool hero Gerrard have been growing and glowing this season.
Rice has established himself as one of the finest midfielders in Europe over the last couple of years with his performances for West Ham and England.
And this season the Hammers ace has taken his game to new levels in a rampaging box-to-box role which Gerrard made his own during a glorious career with Liverpool.
When asked in an interview with The Telegraph earlier this season if he was trying to emulate anyone in particular, Hammers star Rice was unequivocal in naming Liverpool legend Gerrard as his inspiration.
But West Ham ace Rice seriously reminds his manager Moyes of a current Liverpool star and underdog Jordan Henderson.
Speaking to Alan Shearer in an interview for The Athletic, Moyes likened Rice to his England teammate Henderson.
Not just in terms of talent. But the way both were somewhat underestimated by the wider football fraternity as they made their way in the game.
“If I think of when Jordan Henderson left Sunderland to go to Liverpool, there were a lot of people who were saying… not that they were surprised, but they weren’t sure,” Moyes told The Athletic.
“I think Declan is a similar age now to what Jordan was then. And I think Declan at the moment is in a really good position.
“Jordan Henderson has been a great player and captain for Liverpool, having to take over from Steven Gerrard, and he has done a brilliant job. I think Declan has got a lot of the same traits.
“And as a player, he’s quick, he’s good on the ball. There’s a lot of things he can still improve on. We want to improve his passing and his goalscoring.
“We’re trying to get all those elements picked up, but there’s a lot of players — good England players — who at 22, 23 aren’t even close to being at the level they want to be. I think Declan is (already) a good way down the line to becoming a really top player.”
A measure of just how good Rice is came earlier this month after West Ham’s 2-1 win over Aston Villa.
After the game Gerrard himself lauded Rice and quipped that he hoped the West Ham star would still be available for selection if and when he ever manages England (Football.London).
Liverpool are just one of a host of established Champions League regulars who have been linked with Rice.
Although with the brilliant Fabinho in midfield and the fee being touted for Rice, it is surely unlikely Jurgen Klopp would look to bring the West Ham man to Liverpool.