My ratings of an utterly miserable and embarrassing performance.
Mignolet: A good save from the deflected Puncheon shot, but then done like a kipper for the opening goal. Unlucky with the penalty save though, and his form is one of the brighter sparks of a thoroughly depressing period. His kicking is a complete joke, laughable. Whoever decided the best method for him was to aim at one of the full backs when kicking off the ground was wrong and continues to be so. He should aim it down the centre of the pitch and aim to kick it as far as he can. We wouldn't lose the ball any more often than we already do, and there'd be the added bonus of it moving us up the pitch/not draining his confidence. 6/10.
Moreno: Quite what he was doing or where he was going for their second goal yesterday I'm still not sure and I've watched it half a dozen times. I cannot for the life of work it out, and while I've seen players switch off or ball watch on many occasions, I've never seen someone's legs just go into auto pilot and transport them into the opposite direction to which they ought to be moving. It reminded me a little of when my little lad persuades me to play FIFA and the player I think I'm controlling is different to the one I actually am. I think I'm closing him down, but actually I'm in control of the winger who is running into the dugout. I have lost any hope that this lad will ever make a credible left full back, and it is the cruellest irony that the one Southampton player we didn't get was derided on here by the experts, but would have played with distinction in Moreno's spot. 2/10.
The future captain: Not an unusual performance by Dejan, some excellent defending mixed in with some calamitous moments. Someone needs to sit down with him and between them they need to decide what it is he's actually trying to become. At winning headers, tackles and being a stopper centre half he's very good, whenever though he gets embroiled into "systems" and "zones" it all seems to go wrong for him. He needs simple instructions, i.e. "when they have a corner don't mark anyone. I want you simply attack the ball, run through anything in the way and head it out". When he keeps it simple, he's good, when he doesn't, he's bad. 5/10.
The ought to be next captain: Despite all that has gone on around him, Skrtel continues to impress. People say he doesn't have "leadership" qualities, but he always gives 100%, is consistent and looks like he actually gives a f***. Amongst our lot at the moment, that makes him the best candidate. 6/10.
Emre Can. Always does something in a game which makes you think he can make a player. Hopefully next season he'll move into midfield and we'll see what he's really capable of. 5/10.
Henderson. I've had enough of this lad, and not only would I not make him captain I wouldn't have him in our first choice team either. I am sick to the back teeth of his passing, the way he over hits it at people, passes it to them on the first bounce, not properly into their path, hospital passes, return passes, negative prodbacks which stilt our flow. I'm tired of him having shooting chances and fluffing it or snatching at it or putting it over. I'm tired of his awful set piece delivery and his pansy tackling. If this lad is going to be the next captain, we are f*cked and so is Brendan. Awful yesterday. 3/10.
Gerrard: A pale shadow of his former self, his legs have gone and it's definitely the right time for him to go. No longer capable of half what he was, funereally slow and lacking in the zest of yesteryear. All that said, he was yet again one of our best players just as he has been all season. His incisive little pass to Can was the one bit of creativity all day, and the performances of those around him were a total f*cking embarrassment. 6/10.
Coutinho: Obviously a cracking little player but often left to fend for himself. Lots of times had the ball but looked up to see no credible movement in front of him, and the sooner the season ends so we can get some good players around him the better. 5/10
Ibe: Went past the fullback a couple of times, therefore one of our best players. 6/10.
Lallana: Still flimsier than something which is really flimsy, but did score a well taken goal and do a couple of step overs. 6/10.
Sterling: Absolutely stunk the place out and clearly doesn't want to play for Liverpool any more. 3/10.
Subs: I can't be arsed typing anymore so I'll give them all a 4/10.
Logged