My ratings:
Mignolet: One excellent stop (from a shot) in the first half wih his left hand down low, a really top class effort that one. Generally did well and goes down in history as the first goalkeeper in history to be criticised by his own fans for wasting time when his team are 1-0 up. 8/10.
Moreno: On another day and against a less honest player than Whelan could have given a penalty away, but other than that had a good game. One occasion he almost got in on goal with the kind of out to in run I've been on about for ages, and it must only be a matter of time before he does, scores, and allows me to post "I've been saying all along...." followed by some bollocks. 7/10.
Lovren: Looked absolutely brilliant, a Rolls Royce centre half before he got injured. I made the point a week or so ago that on this form Lovren would get into every team in the Premiership, and on that form he would comfortably walk in. I just hope this setback doesn't mean that we rush back his identical twin brother, the one who's frightened of his own shadow and actually not very good. If we wait for the proper one, the one who got injured last night, we have on our hands a real proper centre half. 8/10.
Toure: Got better and better as the game went on. These "Alamo" situations suit Kolo down to the ground, and the more people got taken off injured the better he got. He's the kind of bloke you'd want in the trenches alongside you, and it shows what a clueless bunch of c**** we all are on this forum that when we looked completely lacking in backone, not ONE of us suggested bringing Kolo in.
He doesn't come in a tin, but if he did it'd say on it "gives absolutely 100% every single time he plays and fights for the cause". He does exactly what it would say on it. 9/10.
Clyne: I thought he was pretty good again. He's part of a defensive line which has kept three clean sheets in the last four matches and he's definately a significant part of that success. Solid and dependable. 7/10.
Lucas: A brave move by the manager to pick him after his recent awful performances, but the Brazilian repaid his faith in spades with a textbook Lucas performance. Good distribution, one fantastic tackle on Bojan and managed the game excellently. Even did pretty well at Centre half, although Hughes's reluctance to go route one as soon as he was put back there was baffling. 8/10.
Allen: Didn't put a foot wrong all night which is a little unusual, but what set this performance apart from every other one he's ever given in a red shirt is that he put a lot of feet right. Not only did he keep it, rotate posession, press and all the stuff he normally does, he actuallyinfluenced the game significantly. I've watched the replay of the goal quite a few times now and I still can't work out if he meant the assist or not. As it's Joe Allen I'd be inclined to think not, but he DOES kind of look at Ibe as he's doing it. Whichever way you look at it though he actually got into the box and meant or not, it made us a goal. Joe was my MOM. 9/10.
Can: One of his better games. This lad could really be anything. In two years time we could have the new Yaya Toure on our hands, on the other hand we could be looking at the new Tom Huddlestone. He has all the attributes to be a top player, but there's something there which makes me less convinced that he will make it than say a Ross Barclay or even a Deli Alli (or whatever the f*** his name is). Can has the talent to be better than both I'm just not 100% sure about him. A snarl here and there and a goal or two would help. 8/10.
Coutinho: Our best player is a little bit out of sorts at the moment, and I would agree with some of the other forum members that like Benteke, he may well not fit with the managers philosophy. Unlucky to get injured, but once agin before that it wasn't his best night. 6/10.
Lallana: Was better, but his Cruyf turn on the edge of our own box had our cat running for cover. Is a good player obviously, but needs to show it firstly every week, and secondly in the correct areas of the pitch. 7/10.
Firmino: I saw him coming in for stick fduring the game which I found baffling. I know he's been largely sh!te for his Liverpool career so far, but surely if your talking about the match while it's in progress you've got to put that aside. I thought he was excellent from start to finish, and speaking even as somebody who's sypmathetic and supportive of Benteke, claiming that Firmino didn't fill his boots with a significant amount over and above would be silly. Just needs to add goals to that sort of performance to be a real top player, very encouraging. 8/10.
Subs: Milner: "Plodded" around the pitch to great effect, winning tackles, getting his foot in, winning headers. Provided the pass of the match which led to the goal, then probably would have got a goal himself had Firmino not taken it off his toe end. Jürgen seems to really trust Milner, maybe he's old school like me and likes a couple of "plodders" in his team. Given that the definition of a "plodder" appears to be someone who gives 100% every game, sweats for the shirt, tackles people, occasionally kicks someone, wins headers, assists goals and plays passes which cause goals to be scored as well as chipping in with the odd goal himself I can't blame him. 8/10.
Ibe: Always looked a threat and although he mishit it a bit, got the vital goal. I like this kid and he's going to be a player. 8/10.
Benteke: Was always going to be difficult to make an impact given he's playing sh!te at the moment. Kept it simple, ran around a bit and got involved a couple of times. 6/10.
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