Liverpool v Arsenal: Rating Our Players

THREE matches gone and just one point under new manager Brendan Rodgers indicates the worst start to a top flight league campaign for Liverpool since 1962-63.

Arsenal, on the other hand finally managed to score in the Premier League, despite many a sportsbook review backing the 0-0 draw.

A mix of defensive solidarity and an ability to take their chances saw them to a 2-0 win over Liverpool at Anfield.

The manner of the defeat, against a team that had failed to score in the first two matches was disappointing given Rodgers’ failure to sign a new forward before the transfer window closed on Friday.

With just 2 goals in 3 matches – none of them coming from open play – is a cause of concern for the Reds and Rodgers will need to start worrying as to where his goals are going to come from.

Here’s a look at how Reds fared on Sunday.

Pepe Reina

Reina has been a reason to worry over for a while now; he hasn’t been the same reliable custodian that he used to be. On Sunday, Reina came to Arsenal’s rescue with a poor piece of goalkeeping once again to allow Cazorla to score. Although Cazorla’s strike was a belter, Reina could have done a better job to stop it. The Spaniard’s kicking was poor and in general he looked shaky most of the time during the whole afternoon.

Player Rating: 5/10

Glenn Johnson

Johnson looked more comfortable going forwards during the game, which left gaps at the back for Arsenal to exploit. Defensively Johnson was poor and he could have done a lot better to stop Lukas Podolski rather than just following him in his run into the Liverpool final third. A poor game for the England international.

Player Rating: 5.5/10

Jose Enrique

Enrique was not required much down the left as Sterling single-handedly took on Oxlade-Chamberlain and Jenkinson. Made very few mistakes in the game and defended well to deny Giroud late in the second half when the Frenchman was clear on goal.

Player Rating: 6/10

Martin Skrtel

Although Skrtel was often caught out on the counter by Arsenal’s schemers, he kept Giroud in check for most of the game and did not let him threaten the Liverpool goal. Skrtel had a good game and rendered the French striker useless from open play throughout the match, however he struggled to keep track of Cazorla’s late runs and reverse passes.

Player Rating: 6.5/10

Daniel Agger

Agger along with Skrtel did a very good job in detaining Giroud throughout the game, but like his partner, the Dane also struggled to deal with Cazorla on the counter. Failed to meet the Gerrard corner on the 13th minute, on which he really should have done a better job, otherwise it could have been a different story for Liverpool. Due to Liverpool’s dominance in possession, he was reduced to a spectator for large periods of the match.

Player Rating: 6/10

Nuri Sahin

Sahin had a quiet game on his debut in Red. He looked a little off the pace and somewhat short of match fitness. His pass completion rate was as impressive as Allen’s; he however struggled to make an impression against a supreme Arsenal midfield. Not an outstanding performance by the Turk.

Player Rating: 6.5/10
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Joe Allen

Once again, Joe Allen stood out in the Reds midfield. Bar a few wrong passes, the former Swansea City man kept possession brilliantly. His colleagues however, failed to create anything with the possession that he supplied. Another game, and another man of the match performance from the little Welshman.

Player Rating: 7.5/10

Steven Gerrard

Gerrard had a good game against Manchester City, however he failed to make an impact this time against Arsenal. His misplaced pass surrendered possession to Arsenal for their breakthrough goal and his set-pieces never looked like threatening. Gerrard gave the ball away one too many times and he never looked like wining the midfield battle against Mikel Arteta. The influential skipper, uncharacteristically, allowed Arsenal to dictate the pace of the game.

Player Rating: 5.5/10

Raheem Sterling

Sterling, along with Allen has been the most impressive in the rather toothless Liverpool side. He was explosive down the wing, taking on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlaine and Carl Jenkinson single-handedly. He looked the most likely to penetrate the Arsenal defence and did manage a shot from a difficult angle which rattled the post. But again, he was unfortunate that his strikers could not apply the finish to his many crosses.

Player Rating: 7/10

Fabio Borini

Borini once again failed to impress. Apart from a snatched shot in the first five minutes, the forward did very little to pose a threat to the Arsenal defense. He tracked back and got stuck in for the major part of the game, at which he was game, but not excessively competent. A poor cross from his unnatural position proved his last contribution before being sacrificed for Downing after 54 minutes. He was clueless upfront and seemed to be on a different wavelength from his team mates.

Player Rating: 5.5/10

Luis Suarez

Suarez picked up from where he left off last season; again he looked more interested in diving and whining rather than really pushing to expose Mertesacker’s lack of pace, but forced Mannone into a strong save in the second half. Liverpool’s biggest problem currently is a lack of goals and with Andy Carroll out on loan and Borini yet to adjust to life in the Premier League, the responsibility for goals rests on the shoulders of the Uruguayan. But Sunday’s performance again makes it doubtful whether Suarez can step up to the plate on a regular basis.

Player Rating: 6/10

Subs:

Stewart Downing (54′ on for Sterling)

Downing came on for Borini on the 54th minute but once again failed to create anything in the attack for Liverpool. He was as unpenetrative as ever in his extended cameo. Downing’s run of games without a goal or an assist continues in the league. Perhaps he might get better luck sticking to the left-back position.

Player Rating: 5/10

Jonjo Shelvey (67′ on for Sahin)

Came on for Sahin after an hour and made an impact off the bench. He almost got a goal back in the later stages, and looks more likely to fit into this midfield unit long-term than Gerrard. Shelvey gave the Arsenal defence something to worry about after a very lively introduction.

Player Rating: 7/10

Thanks a lot for reading. Comments and suggestions are always welcomed. You can find me on Twitter @LEONGUI7E
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