My ratings:
Mignolet: Obviously had settled on the "punch everything" method of defending set pieces, and by and large this was a more confident performance from the keeper. 7/10.
Manquillo: Needlessly gave the ball away in the build up to their goal which left us stretched, and his inability to offer much going forward risks preventing him from being a top player. Tidy though in the main, and for a kid is a decent footballer. 6/10.
Skrtel: Along with Lovren defended pretty well I thought. 7/10.
Lovren: Copped some stick for "going to ground" for the penalty, but the lad was about to have a shot on goal so I'm at a loss really to see what other option he had. As it was, the quick feet of the excellent Berahino (we should look to buy him, he's a real talent) did for Lovren. I think he's playing pretty well right now though and is a good aquisition. 7/10.
Moreno: Never looks quite so good when we have a five man midfield as some of the space he would run into is already taken. That said he too did OK I thought. 7/10.
Gerrard: Really clever the way we're varying where Stevie plays at the moment. Today he dropped in deeper for much of the first hour and was excellent, later we puched him on and he was brilliant there too. The legs may be going, but his football brain is still a mile ahead of everyone elses. I wonder if there may even still be a role for him off the front man (Sturridge) with the instruction to drop back into the midfield when we don't have it. Excellent though today. 8/10.
Lallana: Looks a really good little player and despite many of us having reservations about the fee, now looks as though he's worth every penny. Did everything really well, my MOM. 9/10.
Sterling: A real off day and he looks like he needs a rest. I can't help thinking that his contract stuff is playing with his head a bit. His agent is clearly a bit of a c***. 5/10.
Coutinho: I like the position he was played in, I've been advocating as much for a while. Unfortunately for him (and for me in a way I suppose) it didn't really work. I'd still like to see him rotate and recycle the ball much quicker and be the fulcrum of the team, getting a zillion touches a game. As it is, he's off his best by some distance at the moment. 5/10.
Henderson: Letting him have a game sitting alongside Gerrard and having the game in front of him has done him the world of good. His best performance of the season by miles when pushed on again today. Unlucky not to get my MOM, but the truth of the matter is he does my head in with his poncing about so I find it hard to be totally objective about him. 9/10.
Lambert: I thought he did quite well, and completed the main point of his selection with aplomb (that was being there and allowing us to drop Balotelli). Clearly wouldn't win a race against pretty much anyone really, but showed reasonable awareness. 6/10.
Subs...
Balotelli: Much more like the player he can be, and clearly relished playing close to Gerrard (who wouldn't). I thought he did well, and no doubt redeemed himself somewhat in the eyes of many (including me). 7/10.
Lucas: Did OK, but was mainly brought on to allow Gerrard to nudge forward which definately worked. He shouldn't shoot though, ever. 5/10.
Johnson: Put Manquillo's contribution into perspective very quickly. When his minds right (and I'm far from convinced Glen isn't actually a bit bonkers when it comes down to it) Johnson is a really top player who would p!ss into almost every team in the league. 7/10.
The manager: Was the subject of some utterly ridiculous criticism prior to the game, but came through it with a win. 10/10.
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