How a Declan Rice-Style Signing Would Unlock Liverpool's Attack, According to Michael Owen

By James Brooke | Published Thu 12 February 2026 19:00 UK

Michael Owen, the former Liverpool striker, has suggested that signing a midfielder in the mold of Arsenal's Declan Rice could be the key to unleashing Liverpool's potent attack under Arne Slot. According to Owen, Liverpool's forward line is currently "tripping over each other" due to tactical congestion in the final third, limiting clear goalscoring opportunities[2]. He argues that a robust, box-to-box midfielder like Rice—known for his defensive solidity, progressive passing, and late arrivals into the box—would provide the necessary balance[1].

Owen highlights how Rice's archetype excels at breaking lines with forward passes, shielding the backline, and contributing offensively without disrupting the attacking flow. For Liverpool, featuring stars like Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike, such a signing would create space by pulling opponents deeper, allowing the creative talents to exploit gaps. Wirtz, involved in more goals than any Premier League player since December, and teenage sensation Ekitike, who has hit double figures faster than Owen himself did, are already shining but could dominate with better midfield support[3].

The ex-Reds icon points to Liverpool's uneven season, where they've shown resilience—losing just once in 12 league games since mid-October—but struggle for consistent firepower. Owen envisions this addition transforming their attack into "the most powerful in world football", echoing his earlier praise for their potential[4]. It would address midfield gaps exposed in transitions, much like Rice has done for Arsenal, enabling Slot's high-pressing system to thrive.

With looming challenges like the Manchester City clash, where Liverpool are Opta favourites thanks to Anfield's fortress status and City's second-half woes, Owen's blueprint offers a straightforward path to more goals. He names this as an "easy way" for instant improvement, urging decisive action in the market[1][3]. Liverpool's title defence hinges on such midfield reinforcement to fully unlock their attacking arsenal.

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