DANNY MURPHY: If Declan Rice played for Liverpool they would be Premier League champions… Jurgen Klopp’s side need a player like him. He was phenomenal against Arsenal – it was an all-round brilliant performance

If there's a young midfielder out there who wants to learn how to improve every aspect of his game, watch this match and follow Declan Rice. He was sensational.

This game showed me how important Rice – and also William Saliba – are to Mikel Arteta. They are the two players he cannot live without if they want to win the Premier League. With those two players in the team they can get a result anywhere.

It also made me realize how much Liverpool need a player like him. If Rice wore a Liverpool shirt I think they would win the title. He's so good.

He was phenomenal last night, in every aspect. His reading of the game, winning the ball, his positional play, holding the ball under pressure, playing through the lines. It was a brilliant display.

I was just surprised at how little praise he got during the match from Sky's co-commentators Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher – probably because the former defenders were busy drooling over Saliba and Virgil van Dijk!

The England midfielder, pictured with Jurgen Klopp, has become one of the key members of Arsenal's squad this season

Rice has scored three times in 18 Premier League games for Arsenal this season

Liverpool can still win the title, but in the big games away from home, in Europe, a midfielder with the physical presence and game intelligence like Rice – or like Rodri for Man City – is so important, both in the Premier League and in Europe. The difference he has made for Arsenal is incredible.

However, it will be the Gunners who will be the happier of the two teams after a great match. Both sides have proven they are the real deal, especially on defense.

Saliba and Gabriel were imperious for Arsenal and while Van Dijk is always a rock for Liverpool, I thought Ibrahim Konate had his best game of the season.

Ironically, both sides renowned for their attacking creativity and flair lacked a bit of quality in the final third, overshooting the pass, making the wrong decision and taking a heavy knock.

Liverpool will probably be a bit disappointed. They drew at home to Manchester United, in a match they dominated, and performed much better against a top side and will feel they would have achieved victory on any other day. Jurgen Klopp expected at least four points from those two games at Anfield.

My old manager Gerard Houllier always talked about the importance of the 'little details' and in the end it was a match where those details may have cost Liverpool their heads.

That five-a-side overload in the second half, when Trent Alexander-Arnold hit the crossbar from a Liverpool breakaway. The ball bounced a little before he hit it and we're talking about a matter of six inches before we probably win the game.

A goal would have rounded off what I thought was a brilliant display from Alexander-Arnold. His passing was excellent, especially in the first half. His assist for Mo Salah's goal was a pass that few in world football can play.

He is the perfect player to fill the vacant midfield spot in the England team alongside Rice and Jude Bellingham. No one else can do what they can from there. We don't want to stay in the tournament next summer, we want to win it.

He scored the equalizer against Man City, and the winning goal against Fulham. He set up Salah here and was inches away from winning.

However, the happiest manager of all will probably be Pep Guardiola. A draw here, as well as for Aston Villa on Friday evening, was perfect for him, especially after a week in which City were away at the Club World Cup. You never want to fall behind.

Ibrahima Konate also impressed for Liverpool during the match, despite giving away the free-kick that led to Arsenal's first goal

Virgil van Dijk was a rock for the Reds, but it was Arsenal who stayed top of the league at Christmas

Mikel Arteta's side are now unbeaten in their last three games and the Arsenal boss said his team can go all out this season after the game.

If Pep were watching, he would have a small smile to himself at the result. But with the performances of Arsenal and Liverpool, he will know – and I'm sure he already knows – that City are in for a battle if they want to win four titles in a row.

They have already lost at Arsenal this season. They were held at home by Liverpool. Pep knows what he is dealing with.

So it is Arsenal who are at the top at Christmas. That award, for what it's worth, means absolutely nothing. The Gunners have another game a day after waking up at the summit on Christmas morning.

Arteta will know that his side were top at Christmas last season and leave it at that. What he cares about is making sure Arsenal are on top this time when it counts – after the final day.