Player Ratings: Liverpool 3-0 Manchester City
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Liverpool may have narrowly lost the League Cup final at the weekend, but they got some retribution over Manchester City with a comprehensive 3-0 victory at Anfield.
The win keeps Liverpool’s slight hopes of securing a Champions League place alive and simultaneously leaves City 10 points behind top-of-the-table Leicester City, although they do still have a vital game in hand on the Foxes.
Goals from Adam Lallana, James Milner and Roberto Firmino gave Liverpool all three points on a thoroughly enjoyable evening for Reds’ fans.
Here are my player ratings from the game:
Simon Mignolet - 7
He didn’t have too much to do tonight, surprisingly, but did everything he did have to. The sort of performance where you don’t really notice your ‘keeper whatsoever, which is fine by me.
Jon Flanagan - 8
The tackle early doors on Raheem Sterling was in every Liverpool fan’s pre-game script and he stayed solid throughout.
He may have misplaced a few passes but he redeemed himself with an outstanding interception in the first half when they opened us up.
Kolo Toure - 8
He can run, you know? Well it may be more of a waddle these days, but it was enough to remove Sergio Aguero from the vicinity of our box at one point in the second half and, again, Toure was solid all game.
He had me laughing in the second half at some of his inexplicably aimless clearances, but they’re just a part of his beauty.
Dejan Lovren - 8
No funny comments about Lovren’s performance from me, as he was just quiet and efficient, but won everything. Everything.
He had a part in the first goal when he won us the ball, and this shouldn’t be forgotten. Seems a changed man under Jurgen Klopp.
Nathaniel Clyne - 7
A quietly effective performance from Clyne, who found himself on an unfamiliar wing against Jesus Navas, but dealt with the situation well. He didn’t offer much going forward but stayed tidy in possession. Never seems to get a rest, Clyne. Mad how he’s able to play ALL the games.
Jordan Henderson - 7
Was unlucky not to score with a second-half free-kick, which is surprising as we never come close from them anymore!
Not so much a captain’s performance as a satisfactory one, although the replays of him applauding and encouraging Flanagan’s early tackle on Sterling raised a chuckle.
Emre Can - 8
They’re going to accuse us of genetic engineering with him. Some brilliant moments were subtly added to a good overall performance, which is what we want from him more often.
Still has the odd moment when he forgets about football and just passes to the opposition, but he’s not the same beacon of unpredictability without them.
James Milner - 8
I was convinced that his touch was heavy for his goal and the chance was gone; I clearly know nothing.
He got into dangerous positions all game and was his usual energetic self, but with the added quality on the night.
Adam Lallana - 9
Tremendous. Everything you want your £25m midfielder to do, Adam Lallana did.
He scored from 25 yards, he got an assist, he was blocking their players and causing fume.
I bet the City players were sick of the sight of him after the game, and if the rumours that he is playing for his place are true, then tonight did him no harm.
Man of the match.
Roberto Firmino - 8
So many 8/10’s, I’m beginning to worry about my judgement!
However, Firmino was as deserving of one as the rest, he linked play brilliantly and got an excellently taken goal. The pass for Milner’s goal was a beauty, too.
Divock Origi - 7
Feels harsh on Origi, this. The truth is that a seven is an above average performance and he did nothing wrong, but placing him on the same level of some of his colleagues doesn’t seem right either.
He deserves a run of games now, which may give Klopp a selection headache.
The Belgian seems to have developed a more direct streak and looks like he could always be a threat.
Sub: Joe Allen - 7
Allen kept things ticking over at a time when it was important to try and see the game out.
That is until he decided it was appropriate to try to emulate Luis Suarez’s Norwich antics and went for a dipping 30-yard volley. I’m on board, Joe, we all are.
Sub: Christian Benteke - 7
Hard to criticise as he came on and was very big. Made Vincent Kompany so enraged at how big he is that he kept giving us free-kicks, which was great. Just wish something fell to him so he could grab a goal during a cameo like this.
Sub: Jordon Ibe - 6
I was surprised he wasn’t introduced earlier and really didn’t have much time to make an impact.
I thought he might run a bit faster than he did, though, and he seemed slightly slow on the ball. We were seeing out a 3-0 lead in the dying seconds, though, so he gets some slack.