‘Hunt them down!’ – Declan Rice fires warning to Liverpool over title race

Declan Rice has warned Liverpool that Arsenal will continue attempts to ‘hunt them down’ as the race for the Premier League title heats up.

England international Rice put in a brilliant performance as the Gunners thumped champions Manchester City 5-1 at the Emirates on Sunday.

The result has cut Liverpool’s lead at the top of the table to six points, although Arne Slot’s men have a game in hand over the north Londoners.

Rice isn’t worried about that, though, and is adamant Arsenal will ‘be there’ at the end of the season as they attempt to land their first title in 21 years.

‘We’ll be there, we’ll keep pushing,’ Rice told Sky Sports about the Premier League title race after Arsenal’s emphatic victory over Pep Guardiola’s side.

‘We need other teams to help us and credit to Liverpool. They’ve been really good – but it’s up to us to hunt them down.

‘[Man City] nicked the title off Arsenal when I wasn’t here and then they beat us to the title [last season].

‘It’s been hard to accept that, and then everything that went on at the Etihad, you do get that fire. The boys are buzzing.’

Football pundits Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher agree that Arsenal’s win over City is massive in the context of the Premier League title race.

‘It’s so important Arsenal made a statement today and they’ve done just that,’ former Manchester United defender Neville said on Sky Sports.

‘Mikel Arteta has to get that intensity and tempo from the last 30 minutes for the rest of the season. Hang in there. Be there if Liverpool fall.’

Ex-Liverpool star Carragher added: ‘Great day for Arsenal. We said before they were still lacking statement results a title winner would have.

‘But going down to 10 men against Wolves and winning, and demolishing the champions in a game that looked in the balance… Arsenal looked a completely different team once it got to 2-1.

‘They’re going to need that if they’re going to wrestle that title back [from Liverpool].’