So here we are again. Barring a 2005-esque miracle in the Champions League, it’s another trophyless season for the Reds. The sixth one in a row. One league cup in 12 years. Not good enough.
This was the perfect opportunity to have a run in a domestic competition – a home draw against an uninspiring lower-end Premier League side, an opportunity to bounce back from the Swansea disaster. But old problems reared their ever-so-familiar heads. Here’s how I rated that shambles:
Simon Mignolet – 2
Sick to the teeth of talking about the goalkeeping fiasco. Couldn’t do an awful lot about the goals but is badly beaten in the air for one of the offside goals and doesn’t go for a ball which is two yards from his line for another. Nearly fluffs one early in the second half too.
Trent Alexander-Arnold – 3
Felt for him a bit, to be fair. His head completely went in the second half and if I’m honest, his performance in the second half is up there with the worst this season. Didn’t offer us the attacking outlet that I hoped he would but never hid, to his credit.
Joel Matip – 2
The guy isn’t good enough. Somebody tell me what he actually does well. Softest defender I’ve seen play for us in a long time and for someone who is about seven foot, doesn’t dominate at all. Let’s hope he isn’t the man who will partner Virgil van Dijk for the rest of this season.
Virgil van Dijk – 5
I think we could all do with him getting a few clean sheets under his belt. Can’t really fault him for any of the goals though and he wins absolutely everything in the air. Still, I’m seeing enough to stay positive – so long as he doesn’t play alongside Matip…
Alberto Moreno – 3
First game back and he isn’t great, let’s be honest. Showed plenty of energy and directness when on the ball but didn’t actually offer an awful lot in terms of quality and gets caught for their third.
Emre Can – 0
What’s the point? If a team comes to Anfield and puts 10 men behind the ball, the last thing you need your midfielder to be doing is taking needless amounts of extra touches to allow them to get set in their shape. Was the absolute worst version of himself. Couldn’t be bothered getting back in to help the defence out once he gets done for their second goal. Pathetic performance.
Gini Wijnaldum – 2
Completely anonymous. Offers nothing unless it’s an open game. Which it usually isn’t when Liverpool are involved.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – 4
Wasn’t great really. Not helped by the two beside him, rightly hooked.
Sadio Mane – 3
Looks a far cry from the Mané we saw last season which is a great shame. Let’s hope that whatever the problem is: form, injury or fitness; gets sorted out as soon as possible because he’s absolutely wonderful.
Roberto Firmino – 7
Delightful finish for his goal, a millimetre away from taking the best penalty of all time. Tough game for him but I thought he gave a really good account of himself. Praying that the penalty miss doesn’t affect his form as it did after Sevilla.
Mohamed Salah – 6
Probably not his greatest day but every time he got it, it looked like something may happen. Gets his 25th of the season which I don’t think people realise quite how ridiculous that is.
Subs:
Jordan Henderson – 7
Don’t get me wrong, Henderson has loads of imperfections in his game. There are a lot of things which I’d like my number six to do better than him. But the difference when he entered the fray was night and day. Things were actually getting done quickly, West Brom were actually getting dragged out of position and gaps were starting to show. Absolutely has to start on Tuesday night.
James Milner – 5
Not sure. Don’t think he was great, crossing and set pieces were poor. But by this stage, I would have taken Željko Buvac in the midfield over the lads who started.
Danny Ings – 6
Made a sharp run in behind and nearly scored. It was that simple. I quite like him.
