Graeme Souness has unleashed a brutal analysis of England midfielders Elliot Anderson and Declan Rice – accusing the £100m stars of losing their way against Argentina in the World Cup defeat.
The pair, who are two of the most highly-rated midfielders in the Premier League, were both part of Thomas Tuchel’s Three Lions team that reached the semi-finals of the World Cup this week, but were ultimately eliminated in heart breaking fashion by arch-rivals Argentina on Wednesday evening in Atlanta.
Rice joined Arsenal from West Ham United in July 2023 for a £100m transfer fee plus £5m in potential add-ons and has since gone on to clinch the Premier League title with the Gunners.
Having joined Nottingham Forest from Newcastle United in a £35m deal in July 2024, Anderson became one of the most in-demand midfielders in the country last season and has recently agreed to join Manchester City in a £116m deal plus add-ons, making him the most expensive English footballer of all time.
But 73-year-old Souness, who won five First Division titles and three European Cups with Liverpool, and is widely regarded as one of the club’s greatest-ever midfielders, does not see what all the fuss is about with the England pair and went one further by questioning their suitability as midfielders.
Speaking to host Simon Jordon on the World Cup Uncensored podcast in the wake of England’s defeat to Argentina, Souness said: “What about the lads who just lost their way completely after scoring a goal and ended up with 12 per cent of ball between scoring the goal and Argentina equalising? Let me quantify that.
“These are two young [players], well one is very young [Anderson], 22, he’s got a chance of getting better. Declan won’t get any better. You’re looking at as good as he’ll get at 27.
“I don’t see enough football in the two of them. I see them as players who recycle the ball, but I don’t see them hurting people. And, if you want to see the polar opposite to those two, the night before you’ve seen arguably the best one in the world at that and has been for a number of years in Rodri.
” They’ve gone a goal up [Spain] and he’s still got them on the front foot by his choice of pass, not running with it unnecessarily and not going square all of the time. He’s a proper midfield player.
Atlanta, United States – July 15: Declan Rice of England and Elliot Anderson of England looks dejected during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Semi Final match between England and Argentina at Atlanta Stadium on July 15, 2026 in Atlanta, United States. (Photo by Harry Langer/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images)
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Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson look dejected after England’s World Cup semi-final loss to Argentina(Image: Harry Langer/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images)
“I think these two lads are limited. Declan Rice, for me, limited. You hear people talk about Declan Rice, ‘a world-class footballer’… I think he might be a centre-half.
“There’s nothing to dislike about him in terms of his attitude to the game, nothing to dislike about him and his athleticism, nothing to dislike about him for his commitment from the first minute to the last minute. My criticism of him is, he doesn’t have enough football in him.
“You talk about ‘look how he runs with the ball’. As a centre midfield player, you shouldn’t do. The reason people run with the ball is because they don’t see the picture quick enough.
“My take on being a central midfielder is, if you’re a striker or someone in wide areas, or a fellow team-mate, they want me to have the minimum touch, ideally one touch. If not one touch, two touches. I’ve got this vision in my head when people say ‘but he carries the ball really well’. You don’t want to carry the ball really well.
“I’ve got Declan Rice running with the ball, runs 20 yards, is confronted by an opposition player, the handbrake goes on and he passes it square.”
Souness joined Liverpool from Middlesbrough in 1972 for £30,000. The Scotland international went on to captain the Reds to glory both home and abroad, making 354 appearances and scoring 55 goals. He then joined Sampdoria in Serie A before later returning to manage the Reds in April 1991, following the resignation of Sir Kenny Dalglish.
