I’VE never enjoyed evaluation but I thought I might have fun with this one because it comes on the heels of such a superior performance. There were certainly flaws in the game against Spurs but then a perfect game would be boring to watch.
It is difficult to be objective but I have done my best. I would certainly appreciate my readers’ evaluation where it differs from mine (or even where it doesn’t).
So, out of a possible 10:
Simon Mignolet. – 6. While there is no doubt that the Belgian keeper’s shot stopping ability and reflexes are terrific, his play in possession is still questionable. This time around, his gaffe against Soldado almost cost Liverpool a clean sheet. With Brendan Rodgers recognizing that winning a clearance at midfield is never a given with our vertically challenged forwards, Mignolet must improve his handling of the ball and coordination with defenders.
Glen Johnson – 6. I hate to start with two lukewarm ratings but I didn’t see any improvement in Johnson over last game. In both fixtures I thought he seemed disinterested and slow to react. His one shot on goal was a beauty but he relied too much on Sterling’s pace for much of the second half and lost most, if not all, of his impact.
Martin Skrtel – 7.5. The Slovak centre-back dominated as he often does. His concentration was intense, allowing him to make crucial tackles and rescues of corner kicks. He was flawless in his aerial challenges and coordinated well with Sakho in shutting down Spurs’ attacks.
Mamadou Sakho – 7.5. The more I see him play, the more I like this player. His major strengths are his aggressiveness and mobility. He closes on opposition with great acceleration and limits their time to make a decision. Especially in the second half, Sakho caused me briefly to forget Daniel Agger. He was huge against Roberto Soldado.
Jon Flanagan – 8. Score a goal, keep a clean sheet, and totally frustrate Aaron Lennon? What more can a left-back do? He doesn’t yet have the imagination of Jose Enrique but that develops with time. Much more of this form and Enrique will have to fight to get back into the XI.
Lucas. – 7.5. I watch Lucas closely in most games to appreciate his contribution. His main strength is not in his tackling, which often consists of blundering into opponents, but his extreme effectiveness in closing down attacks, passing lines and individual threats – a strength that is highly underrated. He is more effective at confounding the organization of opposition attacks than most holding midfielders in the Premiership. He also plucked a sure goal off the line.
Jordan Henderson. – 10. Not perfection but relative perfection. Hendo played the most complete game I have seen him play this year. Not that I think he hasn’t been outstanding on a number of occasions this season, but he was so ‘noticeable’ on both sides of the ball and an excellent complement to Suarez.
Philippe Coutinho. – 6.5. Probably the first time this season he has failed to impress. His involvement in the Henderson goal was pivotal and his threat increased the apprehensiveness of the Spurs defense, but he showed only flashes of his inventiveness and creativity.
Joe Allen. – 8. For the first time (for me) looked a legitimate member of the side. His energy and efficiency were infectious and, with his midfield partner, he helped Liverpool dominate that part of the pitch. His tackling was superb and his passes well judged.
Raheem Sterling. – 8. Another player who put in his best performance of the season. His run on his goal was sublime and a reward for his unrelenting pressure on the Spurs defense coming in on the baseline. His long distance switch on the Henderson goal was positively Gerrard-esque. His play went a long way toward compensating for Johnson’s indifferent performance.
Luis Suarez. – 9. I presume Luis would have given himself a 6 considering the high standard he sets for himself. There were a few opportunities for him to have acquitted himself a little better – most notably the sure goal that went begging after Hugo Lloris’ ill advised header – but how do you fault a man who is so diligent, unselfish, and gifted? He took on the role of captain and did it proud but still acknowledged Stevie as the true captain of the squad.
Finally, Brendan Rodgers. – 10. Steven Gerrard, when asked to comment on Liverpool’s performance, said “I’d say it was Brendan Rodgers’ best game for Liverpool.” The manager, in both his team selection and strategy, was bang on. His complete dominance of AVB no doubt was a factor in the swift removal of the Spurs’ gaffer on the heels of the final whistle.
Second place at this point in the year? Not in our wildest dreams. I’ll keep on my rose coloured glasses for a wee bit longer.
Very questionable ratings. That’s all I’ll say.
What did you find questionable?
I would give mingolet 4 or 5 he didnot do anything right the whole match(not needed though) and give suarez at least 9.5 he might have missed 1 or 2 but 2 goals & 2 assist deserves the best oh and i would give sakho 8 he was also taking exvellent attacking positions in set pieces
But right about coutinho a rather avg day for him
awonderful coments from captain fantastic no dought.
for the case of sakho istill dought the guy,he slow we keep on presure we are lucky as he said if he gets an oponet like surez it could be defferent so lets wait againest machestercity thats where we shall judge him.
Charles your clueless mate. Sakho is our next captain, clearly our defence has improved and Agger @ Skrtel shouldnt play togethrr anymore
Very silly ratings . Johnson was superb prob a 8 while Allen was decent not great . Henderson was excellent but Suarez was still the best.
Be fair if your going to rate them .
Woody What are you thinking? Did you really watch Johnson? He was by far our worst player!! Too slow to pass – lost the ball with poor passing and not nearly enough urgency.
Excellent player ratings in my view. You should re-think your idolistic views about Johnson and watch him more closely. He prob has one good game in 4 or 5!!!
Hi Fritz, my ratings / comments on yours
Mignolet 5 – very nervous start. Kicking was poor and mistake from sakhos pass back could easily have cost a goal. Great suit stopper but suffers from nerves in big games.
Johnson 5 – hasn’t recovered his form since injury. Didn’t get forward at all bar one excellent left foot shot. Very wasteful in possession
Skrtel 7 – solid and very dependable.
Sakho 8 – equally excellent defensively (bar one moment when he lost possession), but also great accurate forward thinking passing. Never lose a headers.
Flanagan 8 – defended really well against Lennon and got forward with aplomb. Even outpaced Walker on one occasion.. Shows good power in contested possession
Coutinho 6.5 – agree with your rating. Maybe a little quiet but critical in the phase just prior to the assist. Eg. In both Hendersons and flanagans goals
Henderson 9 – Top class performance, not a 10 for me
Lucas & Allen 7 – both tidy and dynamic in possession and pressed really as a team
Sterling 8 – our best player in first half. Our key attacking outlet and maintained his drive in second. Great passing as well as wing play.
Suarez 9 – 2 goals and 3 assists he can’t have a lower rating than Henderson. Missed 2 one on ones
This is a much fairer analysis , although I thought Johnson played very well .
For me the achievement was teamwork. I am one who is still waiting to see Liverpool play like Barcelona. After all this is what BR promised us. The match against Tottenham was promising to that end. For the first time l have coinfidence on Rodgers delivering on his masterplan.
One more rating missing from the article:
Steven Gerrard – 9. He is the best when doing the talking and not working on the field.
World class Moron
Jobless fool !
…and that proves you are a troll . How do you know neil is jobless ?? Pretty stupid assumption ?
He is probably not a fool , but you most definitely are a moron . End of .
Suarez was MOM . Suarez is always MOM
yana the imp
Yana the gimp
Dear all, please don’t respond to my comments if you strongly disagree with me. I’m LFC supporter. I have my own opinions and you have yours. And we can co-exist in this blog. I think differing opinions are OK but our ultimate aim is to see LFC winning the PL.
I’m result oriented people and now I see Gerrard is $hit based on recent performance. I also predicted that Gerrard performance will further worsen in coming days. I don’t care about the past contribution by Gerrard. I care for my team. The team is bigger than your ex-Hero Gerrard.
Wish the team well, drop the $hitty Gerrard now.
Yana you are a braindead ignorant troll that has not one little bit of football knowledge . If you knew anything about football you would not speak about our captain and still great player Stevie G.
You are a disgrace . Your opinion childish and what you have been doing is trolling .
Take your opinion and shove it up your ar se , or you can expect everyone to call you out for being a total smeg head .
Please shake your stick well
And whatever happened to You’ll Never Walk Alone? Steven Gerrard is a long way from the derelict that you make him out to be. There are a number of occasions this season when he has been the best player on the pitch. I find you lack of respect for this great player highly offensive and with no basis in fact.
@Fritz,
You want to win things without Gerrard or win nothing with Gerrard ? The choice is yours. But to me, my LFC is more important than an old useless ex-hero. I WANT MY LFC WIN PL THIS SESSION !!! YOU GOT IT ?!!!
Peace for all ~
Stupid fool , dats not a choice , dat is u being a idiot. YOU GOT IT ?
Yana the Manc , yana the Manc
He sits in his cave and he has a w*nk
Appreciate quality players even from Manc.
@Yana, why don’t you use your real name, Alex Ferguson??
Yana you troll . Go away and die
@Josep
May god bless you!
yana, i think u shd leave this blog. i read your comments everyday and u offer no sense in whatever u say. u always at the other side of the road. even giggs a forty (40yrs) old is playing. He giggs is a legend So is our captain fantastic. Lng may he live. He has scored 1 goal and 6 assist. what do u rili wnt frm him. We will plead with u to stop commenting on our blog and go comment on your team’s blog “either” the manc, blues or whatever. i think the gunners will not even wnt u. Think POSITIVE yana ! Think Positive
Please call a spade, a spade. If that is $hit then it does not smell great. Let’s see our performance this month without that slow ~ slow ~ ~ ~ slow ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ captain
Could we stop wasting time on this silly person?
That is what all commentators should do. Don’t fight for difference. Accept the beauty of difference !
Ur not different. Ur a troll.
If you think I am a troll then don’t feed the troll, that is ignore my comments and just posting your views. Peace for all. We have the same aim that is to win PL this session.