As good as Declan Rice is, this is what he needs to do to improve, writes GRAEME SOUNESS

There is nothing to dislike about Declan Rice but we need to apply some perspective before declaring him world class for scoring two free-kicks against Real Madrid.

He comes across as a great guy, I like to hear him speak and he talks with great honesty. I’m sure he is a dream to have in the dressing room but I’m sorry, two wonderful free-kicks do not make you a great player.

We get over excited easily in this country, particularly in the media, we are all guilty of it. Even if you win the FA Youth Cup you are considered a ‘club legend’.

We are too quick to apply ‘legend’ or ‘worldie’ status on the back of emotional events. We need to calm down and not get ahead of ourselves.

We talked about a genuine world class player in Kevin de Bruyne last week and, elsewhere in my column today, I talk about other players of that level but Declan is not there yet.

He looks like he has a great attitude. It wouldn’t surprise me if he was first onto the training pitch and last off. I wouldn’t be surprised either if they also had to hold him back, tell him to stop lashing the ball about before he has warmed up, for fear of injury. But it’s just his love of the football.

He has a great attitude, talent, and physical presence but needs more goals and assists (corner kicks don’t count!)

Rice is not on the level of a star like Kevin De Bruyne – too many people get called ‘worldlies’

I think he’s one of that small minority, though he wouldn’t broadcast it, who would offer to play the game for free.

He’s talented. At 6ft 2ins he’s got real physical presence, a tremendous athlete who gets around the park, and you’d have him in your dressing room every day of the week but he is still short on the creative side that would elevate him to being world class.

He has nine goals and nine assists for club and country and a lot of assists attributed to him are corner kicks. In my book that’s not an assist. That’s the thing that he lacks – being more cute and clever in the final third.

The challenge now is for him to go on and be better in that area.

Obviously, he has worked hard at his game and is improving. At 26 I don’t ever see that work ethic changing in him either.

He certainly is a wonderful dead-ball kicker and that is why, despite being 6ft 2ins tall, he is being sacrificed for set-pieces because otherwise with that physique he’d be a wonderful aerial threat in the box.

The best taker of a set-piece I ever saw was the Brazilian Zico. I got to witness that a couple of times first hand, unfortunately.

At Liverpool, Jimmy Case and Sammy Lee were wonderful strikers of the ball.

The best free-kick taker I ever saw was Zico for Brazil; he scored against Scotland in 1982

If you weren’t careful, Kenny Dalglish (centre) would run up and take your free-kick at Liverpool! (right: Souness; left: Alan Hansen)

After Jimmy, it would be either Sammy and I or Terry McDermott and I who would be the designated free-kick takers. We would often be joined by Kenny Dalglish who was forever offering to take the free-kicks but we would, equally, forever be shooing him out of the picture. 

The only problem was, if we turned our backs briefly, Kenny would run up and take it.

Time and time again we would say ‘What the f*** was that?’ And Kenny would just shrug his shoulders and walk away getting away with it. Typical Kenneth!

THIS is what makes PSG a great team 

How good are Paris St Germain?

It’s so easy to be mesmerised by their ability on the ball and their pace but watching against Aston Villa, one thing jumped out at me – they work their socks off when they’re out of possession.

It’s always overlooked by the anoraks with their coaching books, their FA courses and annoying over analysis of ‘soccer’. This is the most important factor in the professional game and this is your starting point. 

Not only are PSG a great watch but they are a great example to any young, aspiring player. Forget how much ability you possess, your starting point should always be: work harder than the guy you are up against.

Collectively, individually, PSG right now are off the charts. And it’s nice to see some things don’t change. Work hard was always the mantra at Liverpool. You could have all the talent but the ones that work the hardest win the trophies. PSG are the perfect modern example.

When they sold Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid, many wrote them off but Luis Enrique has made them a greater talented group. I had to step back occasionally to check what I was watching. 

Aston Villa are a really good team but Joao Neves, Vitinho and every other player in their attacking set up put the hard yards in the minute possession changed hands.

It’s not over of course but it will be extremely difficult for Villa to salvage this tie.

We saw how PSG, trailing from the first leg, went to Anfield, which can be the most intimidating place, particularly on European nights, and played without fear. The Holte End will be doing their best but Villa will need an enormous slice of luck.

I was very impressed with PSG’s work ethic against Aston Villa and they’re an example to kids

For all the talent they have, it’s the hard work which will stand them in good stead the most

Luis Enrique has forged a greater group after selling Kylian Mbappe. They look a different team

Why I’m for semi-automated offsides 

Semi-automated offsides will be introduced this weekend. Premier League jargon says is it will enhance the speed, efficiency and consistency of the process…

Offside calls are the easy thing for our referees, it is correcting the finer nuances of our game that they have problems with. But any technology that improves decision making and quickens the process I’m in favour of.

No surprise with Mo and Virgil 

There was no great surprise in Liverpool reaching agreement on contracts for Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk this week. 

I’m not surprised to see Mo Salah sign a new deal and Virgil van Dijk making progress to one

I never believed there weren’t conversations taking place but both players’ sides played it well. 

The risk was if either player had picked up a serious injury while running down their contract in the process but thank goodness that didn’t happen. They were holding all the cards. 

Negotiations were a precursor to what Donald Trump and China must be going through right now but all sides must be happy with the numbers.