Liverpool will monitor Declan Rice's World Cup campaign to see whether the midfielder can cope with the big game pressure, according to Football Insider.
The Reds are expected to be in the market for midfield reinforcements, both in January and next summer, as Jurgen Klopp looks to address an imbalance in that position. The German has only Naby Keita and Arthur Melo within what is considered their 'prime' age range, but the pair have played just 20 minutes of senior football between them this season.
Klopp and Liverpool are long-time admirers of Jude Bellingham, but know they face an incredibly tough task to lure the 19-year-old to Anfield amid competition from the likes of Real Madrid, Chelsea and Manchester City. And while there will no doubt be scouts watching the Borussia Dortmund star, eyes will also be cast on his likely midfield partner Rice.
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The report suggests that Klopp is a 'huge admirer' of the West Ham captain, but is intrigued to see how the 23-year-old will cope with the type of nationwide scrutiny that he might not be under with the Hammers. Several teams were interested in a summer move for the dynamic midfielder, but David Moyes' claim back in April that '£150m just now would be minimum' kept any potential suitors at bay.
Rice's current contract in London runs out in 2024, but West Ham do have an option to extend that for another 12 months.
The Hammers star is expected to start in midfield alongside Bellingham later today, when they kick off their World Cup campaign against Iran.
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