I know some were talking about expecting a possible cricket score prior to this game. I'm glad I don't think like that because the low some must feel now, after thinking in that arrogant way doesn't bare thinking about.
I think we were pretty much outplayed by a newly promoted side on our own patch, and we just scraped the result through a very fortunate decision. I'm happy we won, and I don't mind us winning ugly at all, especially at the beginning of the season, but we had no control or drive in midfield whatsoever.
Rodgers, for me has to drop this formation he's trying because we'll come a cropper playing essentially with 2 out and out midfielders. Bournemouth outnumbered us in the engine room and we didn't have the time nor space to dictate play whatsoever.
He's got to play Milner, Henderson (who after I've critisised a bit, thought he did a decent job until he went off), and Can in midfield. We look leaderless, rudderless and failed to win the right to play the game. Bournemouth, for me won that right and dominated proceedings.
My player ratings:
Mignolet: 6 Didn't have too much to do in the way of shot saving, flapped and flipped a bit at crosses but really for their dominance he had a fairly comfortable night.
Clyne: 6 A solid performance at RB. Ventured forward a bit and got in some good tackles.
Gomez: 5 Solid defensively. However, if Rodgers is going to persist with playing this right footer at LB, then he need to ask Gomez to raid the flanks a bit more. I suspect, the lad won't be comfortable doing this though.
Lovren: 8 I think he had one of his better games and going by his showing at this club that can't be hard. But in fairness to Lovren I think he was pretty good tonight. Recovered after Wilson ghosted him to the bye line in the first half, and almost every connection he made to the ball was a good one.
Skertel: 6 I think he was sound. Didn't really notice anything great or bad from big Martin. But it's clear these two center backs need to start working in tandem with each other rather than being individuals.
Milner: 7 Thought he was typically industrious and his own game mirrored our team game. Nothing spectacular but grinding away with a good work ethic. I would like to see either him or Hendo take the midfield by the scruff of the neck.
Henderson: 7 Actually tried to impose himself on the game and looked the more likely out of the two engine runners to take the game by the scruff of the neck. I just felt he was hampered with only one genuine midfielder next to him in Milner. I think another body in there would have really helped Henderson, but that was a good performance by him and his assist was good too.
Can: 6 I like him. Gets about a bit and does his stuff. Looks at times though the pace of the game gets to him. Hopefully, with more time in his preferred role Can can really stabilize a meek midfield.
Ibe: 5 It hasn't really come off for him starting two games. And at the moment he looks better from the bench, when legs are tiring and the game is stretched - also he seems to burst into the game more being introduced as sub, as though there is less expectation from him.
Lallana: 4 Disappointing to the extent I thought he took up a valuable shirt that was much needed in central midfield. Didn't offer much for me, and Rodgers really has to think about dropping him IMO.
Coutinho: 7 The only bright spark for us. It was unfortunate nobody else around him in a red shirt was as lively. Had they been, more of his game would have been highlighted for the quality it is. He could/should have trouble the net with a left footed passing shot into the Kop in the second half, and he really tried to link up with Benteke, our only forward thinking player who seemed to do this - and read the Belgium's knock downs.
Benteke: 7 His goal proved decisive in the end, and he should have scored IMO late on. Put himself about and won so many aerial duels but they'd often come to nothing because nobody around him anticipated the knock-downs really, apart from Coutinho. Still looks a little weird in this team, but that is something the team has to work on a bit I suppose.
All in all, I'm just thankful for the 3pts, and much credit to Bournemouth for the way they came and played.
YNWA
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