Alan Shearer picks Declan Rice in Premier League TOTW after West Ham draw
Alan Shearer has included West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice in his Premier League Team of the Week.
The Irons extended their unbeaten run to four against Manchester City, holding on for a 1-1 draw at the London Stadium.
Michail Antonio grabbed most of the headlines for his incredible opening strike, but it was Rice who caught Shearer’s eye.
Shearer claimed that the Hammers skipper shielded the back-five perfectly, both on and off the ball in the impressive draw.
“West Ham United’s captain protected his defence while also springing counter-attacks, completing every single pass he made,” he told the official Premier League website.
Rice is getting better and better with each game, and the added responsibility given to him by David Moyes is clearly helping.
The partnership between Tomas Soucek and Rice is also a massive factor behind it, and both are blossoming at the London Stadium.
The 21-year-old was phenomenal in defence and dominated the stars of Manchester City who have influence so many games in the past.
Rice won 100% of his defensive duels and his aerial duels according to WyScout, almost the perfect performance when you add in his seven interceptions.
It isn’t a one-off though, Rice dominates nearly every side he plays, and it is an off-day if he doesn’t – something that last happened in the defeat against Newcastle.
There is a line of pundits and professionals waiting to shower Rice with praise, and Shearer isn’t the first or will he be the last who does it.
In other West Ham United news, Hammers squad want Moyes to be given new contract