My ratings:
Mignolet: Yes we could improve on him, but in his current form we could do a lot worse too. Has cut the calamitous moments down to around one every match, and is seemingly more decisive all round. Good today, therefore a 7/10.
Markovic: Muissed an absolute sitter in the first half but still little flashes of a really good player, albeit one who's playing out of position. Has a bit of devil in him too which I like, but I'd like to see him get beyond the ball more. 6/10
Can: Another good young player who's playing out of position. It really is worth emphasising with some of these lads that they are 20 years old and as such, footballing babies. God only knows what position Can will end up playing, but as long as it's for us I'm not fussed. 7/10.
Skrtel: A pretty boring performance from Martin of late in that it was absolutely faultless. A really cracking defender these days. 8/10.
Sakho: Much like Skrtel he is becoming consistently very good. Cute piece of game management from the boss to have Sakho attacking all their long goal kicks which were aimed at Carroll before retreating back to his normal position, I think he barely lost one. Top player. 8/10.
Moreno: Has regressed a little from the swashbuckling performances we saw earlier in the season. Is either raw as f*** or daft as a brush (or more likely, both) but does some really immature things at both ends of the pitch. Will no doubt improve a lot, but each time I see Ryan Bertrand play and remember some of the frankly silly comments there were about him on here in the Summer, I wonder "what if". 6/10.
Henderson: I liked both of his free kicks despite him hitting the wall each time. Both had the required pace and whip to trouble the keeper (as long as they get over) and both were infinitely better than his usual play it safe and loop it over the bar trick. Some good long passing and the usual energy, and save for him giving a silly corner away with a back header second half did little wrong. 7/10.
Lucas: Another who's becoming pleasantly boring in his consistency. I barely remember a misplaced pass, and only a silly free kick on the edge of our box when the fella was running away from goal denied him an eight. 7/10.
Lallana: Clearly not back to full fitness yet, and is a fella who I think still needs fully convincing that he is actually good enough to play for us. The reality is of course that he absolutely is, but just struggled today to find a foothold in the game. 6/10.
Sterling: What a footballer this kid is going to be. For Gawds sake just pay him whatever he wants plus ten grand a week, stick a ridiculous sell-on clause in and make the deal for five years. At least that way we'll not only get to see him play in red for another three seasons, but when he does go we'll get a mountain of cash for him. 8/10.
Coutinho: The pass for the first goal was a short stab which kind of floated over the defence and stood still with a bit of spin. It travelled about ten paces, and was a thing of absolute beauty. The ball ricoched towards him and he had to sort his feet out before sending it first time to land on a sixpence, with a bow around it waiting to be knocked in. A truly wonderful little footballer, breath-taking on occasions and MOM. 9/10.
Subs:
Sturridge: Only gets an 8 because he's half fit and was on for 20 minutes. Where he runs though, when eh runs, how he moves, what he does, unbelievable footballer. I actually think he might come back even better than he was before as he's had plenty of time to think about his game. Were he completely fit he'd have got on the end of Lallanas cross and would have scored the one where the ball wouldn't come down for him. Those who've criticised Brendan all season I have a question for you. If Sturridge had been fit all season where do you think we'd be in the league? 8/10.
Ibe: Did very well and is a big powerful lad. A bit out there this, but I've a hunch he might end up as a Yaya Toure midfielder type. We'll see. 7/10.
Brendan: What can you say? Even the defensive coach thing seems to be called for less these days. 8/10.
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