My ratings.
Mignolet: Good save in the first half, and while it's true to say he had little chance with the goal it would be nice to see him save one sometimes. Distribution laughably bad, I counted three times after Benteke came on and pulled out tight wing for the diagonal he launched it dead centre and missed him by 50 yards. Unreal. 7/10.
Flanno: One goal saving challenge in the first half which went largely unnoticed on the telly, and generally did OK. Up against it as Adebayor pulled onto his saide for the long diagonal all the time, and unlike us they were actually able to find him. Did Ok though and good to have him back. It appears that Jürgen doesn't fancy him at left back which is a shame as I think him there and Clyne right would be my first two. 7/10.
Lovren: Man of the match by about 8 miles, Rolls Royce of a performance once again. I saw people saying he got "skinned" in the first half and it's the first time I've seen a centre half who is unable to catch a pacy full back who has a two yard start on him being "skinned", but there you go. Won absolutely everything in the air and most things on the ground, they'd obviously discussed Bolasie and decided the best way to play him was to get really tight and not let him face you up. Bolasie is a top player but Lovren played him brilliantly. In the latter part of the game began to even venture forward and show some of the leadership qualities he showed while captain at Southampton. 9/10.
Sakho: Did nothing wrong against good opponents and was in our top three players on the day in my view. 8/10.
Moreno: I suppose given he was against one of the best wingers in the league and probably it's best dribbler, he didn't do too bad. Still impetuous and silly on occasions, but that's his Ronseal attributes coming out. Unlucky with a great shot at the end. 6/10.
Milner: Poor on the ball and countless times had it out wide only to find his options were limited. Not by accident of course as Palace were happy to let us have it there and practically asked us to cross it, but we lacked invention again against two sitters (again). Got his foot in and had no complaints about the sending off, although I thought for the second one he was thrown under the bus a little by his teammates. 5/10.
Henderson: I've never been his biggest fan, but I think it's only fair to cut him some slack as he's clearly playing through injury. He was poor today, but did assist the winner. 5/10.
Can: Our second best player on the day and best midfielder by miles. Such was his influence that we had to cut short his spell in the back three, really did look like a player in the making today. 8/10.
Firmino: Took his goal really well where the first touch was a killer. Aside from that largely anonymous I'm afraid and it always looked as if the physicality of the whole thing was a little much for him. Gets a 6/10 simply because he scored a goal.
Lallana: Like Firmino without the goal, so only 5/10.
Origi: Is definately getting better, but he doesn't strike me as the kind of lad who is ever going to score regularly enough to be a goalscorer in his own right. Runs around a lot and is willing though. 5/10.
Subs:
Coutinho: Provided some guile in the middle but in all honesty never really got into it. 5/10
Toure: Did his job when he came on. 5/10.
Benteke: Including injury time he was on the pitch for fourteen minutes. It'll surprise nobody to hear that I thought we looked a much better team during those 14 minutes than we had the previous 80, and the fact that Benteke had two shots on target (I don't know how many we had in the whole game but it wasn't many) before winning the penalty and then converting it says it all really. Both the "chances" he had before he scored were no doubt greeted on here with the "he should have scored that" comments that the fella always gets (by then I'd switched off the match thread as it was doing my head in). Both weren't that type of opportunity though, both were made by excellent movement and for both he hit the target. The penalty (which incedently I thought definately was a penalty although in saying that we were lucky to get it) was once again made by excellent movement (and a good pass from Henderson). He doesn't get masses of brownie points from me for knocking the penalty in, they all should be able to do that, but it was a good effort under no doubt immense pressure. I don't think Benteke will ever be Jurgens type of striker (and I wouldn't start him against the Mancs) but in some games (before we sell him) his inclusion ought to be an absolute nailed on no brainer. I think today was a classic example, and I think our failure to do that was a mistake for which we would have paid a heavy price had the Gods not shined on us a bit. Anyway Benteke was excellent when he came on, as he was against Man City in the week. 8/10.
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