Rio Ferdinand, Jermaine Jenas select Arsenal's Declan Rice as best Premier League player of season so far
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Published 30/12/2023 at 14:00 GMT
TNT Sports pundits Rio Ferdinand and Jermaine Jenas gave their mid-season awards ahead of Chelsea’s trip to Luton Town, live on TNT Sports. Both have been impressed by Arsenal's Declan Rice following his big summer move from West Ham United, while Jurgen Klopp and Gary O’Neil were both hailed as the best-performing managers in the Premier League. The pair also give their 2024 predictions.
Premier League mid-season awards: Ferdinand, Jenas pick top performers
Ahead of Luton Town’s clash with Chelsea, live on TNT Sports, Jermaine Jenas and Rio Ferdinand gave their mid-season awards and both were full of praise for Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice.
The England international joined Mikel Arteta’s side for £105 million in the summer - the second biggest fee for a British player in history - and has been a revelation in north London as the Gunners push for a long-awaited title.
Rice has produced big moments in big games, such as his 96th-minute goal to put Arsenal 2-1 ahead against Manchester United and another winning strike deep into added time against Luton at Kenilworth Road.
Jenas and Ferdinand were both lauded Rice for an impressive first half-a-season at the Emirates Stadium and couldn’t look past him as their No. 1 pick.
“I’m looking at Declan Rice, it’s difficult to ignore Declan Rice and [William] Saliba,” Jenas told TNT Sports. “I think Declan Rice in particular, his contribution, big fee on his head, a lot of pressure, a lot of eyeballs looking at him and how he’s going to deliver.
“I think if we’re looking at his performance from mid-season to now, he’s a difficult one to top.”
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LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 03: Declan Rice celebrates scoring Arsenal's 2nd goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Manchester United at Emirates Stadium on September 03, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via G
Image credit: Eurosport
Ferdinand argued that despite his monumental fee, nobody is talking about it because of his performances on the pitch.
“I can’t go too far away from Declan,” he said. “As an impact player to a team and the difference that he’s made. Has there been anybody else that has made a bigger impact?
“With the price tag as well, that £100m. How many of us are sitting on TV in the media, at home, around bars talking like ‘It’s big money. Big price tag’. No one mentions it, that’s a testament to his performance.”
Ferdinand hails Klopp, Jenas votes for O’Neil as best manager
As for the manager of the season so far, there were some honourable mentions which included Aston Villa’s Unai Emery, Brighton’s Roberto De Zerbi, and Tottenham’s Ange Postecoglou, as well as Arteta.
However, Ferdinand highlighted Jurgen Klopp as the best-performing manager so far because of the way he has turned Liverpool’s fortunes around.
The Reds have struggled to hit the same heights as they did in seasons gone by, which included a first Premier League title for the club in 2019/20, but according to Ferdinand, the German has them back on track for more title success.
“Klopp has to be the big one, I think he has turned the team around,” he claimed. “Last season they were way off it, they fell off.
“This season, top of the league more and less and looking like title challengers again.”
Jenas opted for Wolves manager Gary O’Neil, who has taken them from relegation candidates to fighting for a place in the top 10.
“I’ll balance it out and go with Gary O’Neil, just on the basis of how tough the job that he took on [was], and where he’s got it so far,” he said.
Gordon likened to former Barcelona winger and is the ‘surprise package’ of the season so far
Asked who Ferdinand has been surprised with by most this season, the former defender pointed out Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon who signed from Everton last summer for £60m.
“Anthony Gordon. He came for a big price tag and I’ve watched him in big games,” Ferdinand explained. “A lot of the time he starts it, he starts the press, he reminds me of Pedro [former Barcelona winger] in a little way.
“Not the way he plays, Pedro was a huge player for years and won everything. But in terms of the intensity and triggering the press. That gets the place going at St. James [Park] like not other, and he’s been the one to do that.”
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NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 02: Anthony Gordon of Newcastle United celebrates after scoring the team's first goal during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Manchester United at St. James Park on December 02, 2023 in Newcastl
Image credit: Eurosport
Man City to win a fourth successive title
As well as their mid-season awards, Ferdinand and Jenas gave their 2024 predictions which included their favourites for the Premier League title and those that would make up the rest of the top four.
Both pundits feel Manchester City will be too strong for challengers Liverpool and Arsenal.
“I still can’t look past City,” Ferdinand predicted. “I just feel that they’re not even hitting second or third gear yet. They’re just chilling, they’re purring and when the turn of the year comes, they know that track.
“They know where to go to and how to up the levels and they could run out a 20-game winning streak and I don’t see anyone else really prove they can do that.”
Asked whether Liverpool could put together the same sort of devastating run, Jenas replied: “I don’t think so. I still think the midfield is figuring itself out. Up front, [Darwin] Nunez is not really come to the fore yet and do what everyone has expected him to do.
“I wouldn’t go with Liverpool just yet. I’m with Rio on this and think City are the team to beat.”
Who will finish in the top four?
The pair exchanged a heated debate on who would pick up the fourth spot, with both fancying Arsenal and Liverpool to finish in the top three.
Ferdinand opted for his former club Manchester United, while Jenas went for in-form Aston Villa to claim their highest league finish since the 1995/96 season under Brian Little.
“Man United will be there,” Ferdinand boldly predicted. “Man Utd have probably had one of the most injury-ravaged teams this season.
“Come January, a lot of those players will be back and they’ll have a big, big impact on this team going forward. Man Utd are still in touch.”
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In response, Jenas questioned: “Do you really believe this? Do you really believe what you’re saying? I remember you having a bit of a meltdown at Fulham. Mine was a legit [predication].
“The United shout is a mad one, I’ve seen you have meltdown after meltdown all year and now you put them top four!”
“I’m up and down, I’m up and down like a yo-yo,” Ferdinand replied. “I admit that and I love it. If Man Utd finish fourth and without a trophy - which is very likely - it’s an ok season.
“They’re in there. They might finish third!”
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