Steven Gerrard has revealed how Aston Villa tried to nullify the threat of Declan Rice during the clash with West Ham at the London Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The Villa manager recognised the threat of Rice and his midfield partner Tomas Soucek but was unable to seize control of the centre of the park from the West Ham pair.
It was Rice's driving run beyond John McGinn that was the catalyst for Pablo Fornals' winner. The England midfielder robbed Leon Bailey of possession before carrying the ball 40 yards up the pitch and laying it off to Said Benrahma who squared for Fornals to finish.
Gerrard admitted that from the start against West Ham his aim was to stop Rice and Soucek controlling the play but added that he was struck by the quality of Rice's display.
