Dom This is one area where his regression since late-November has been obvious. His pressing, interceptions and tackling have been subpar compared to what they were earlier in the season and in 23/24.
It's always a bit hard to call these things but statistically at least this claim appears to be false in certain respects. Here are Rice's match logs for defensive actions in 25–26:
https://fbref.com/en/players/1c7012b8/matchlogs/2025-2026/Declan-Rice-Match-Logs
(click "Defensive Actions" to jump to the tackles etc)
As you can see there's no appreciable decline in tackling, challenge and block stats over the season. Aggregate numbers for 25–26 are also stable with respect to last season. "Pressing" is a bit of a nebulous concept but Rice's rate of interceptions also isn't in decline, you can see that as well on that page.
There was also no flatlining nor a dip in his total defensive contributions versus Villa, Liverpool and Chelsea.
These absolute measures of defensive actions don't tell you the whole picture. If the opposition is controlling the ball through the midfield you'd expect a higher rate of "chances to intercept" or "chances to tackle" which are not stats being tracked. The stat you'd want would be "how many times it might've been humanly possible to make an off the ball intervention did Rice make that intervention?" I do recall all these opponents running through us a fair bit.
Anyway, none of this is definitive but I reckon it supports my view Rice has sustained his good work off the ball, both compared to last season and earlier this season. These numbers are very favourable across the whole league comparing players in his role.
