Liverpool v. Leicester City –Player Ratings
Sept. 1, 2018
By Andrew Corns
Match Ratings (out of 10)
Alisson Becker – 6 –
After a couple weeks where Alisson has looked a little too lax with the ball, it came back to bit him in a large way here. Though van Dijk didn’t do him any favors with a poorly placed back pass, Alisson had plenty of time to boot the ball upfield and avoid danger. Instead, he attempted a flashy Cruyff turn, was quickly closed down by Iheanacho and created the first major blunder of his Liverpool career. Luckily for all involved, the error didn’t prove costly in the Reds getting all three points. This will serve as a reminder going forward that the Premier League won’t be as forgiving when it comes to playing the ball out from the back with overconfidence. He did make a strong save early in the game and seemed to shake off the mistake to see out the game which is a sign of his strong mentality.
Trent Alexander-Arnold – 7 –
Alexander-Arnold didn’t offer much going forward and had to spend most of the match dealing with Albrighton and Chillwell who proved constant threats out wide. It’s important to remember that he’s still in the infancy of his senior career and there’ll be games where he doesn’t live up to the heights he provided towards the end of last season.
Joe Gomez – 10 (MOTM) – Dejan Lovren’s long World Cup run and subsequent injury will be viewed in the same way as Clyne’s absence the previous campaign. Gomez has used the first month of the season as an opportunity to establish himself as the best partner for van Dijk in the center of defense and this was without question his coming out party. He didn’t put a foot wrong over the course of the game and the block he made in the box to save a goal highlighted all the aspects of his game that have him so highly rated. He reads the game superbly and has fantastic pace and reaction time that’ll allow him to keep from getting burned by most strikers in the league.
Virgil van Dijk – 7-
After looking like an absolute monster in defense the first three weeks, van Dijk’s form dipped ever so slightly in this match. It’s not that Virgil had a bad game by any stretch of the imagination, but he was clearly outplayed by his partner. It’s unfortunate that the Alisson error ruined the clean sheet because Liverpool’s backline has been rock-solid.
Andy Robertson – 7 –
The debate’s going to rage on between Liverpool and Manchester City fans over who has the best left back in the league. One thing that goes in favor of Robertson though is the level of consistency he’s brought since cementing his place in Liverpool’s starting XI. You know what you’re going to get from him every week and this match wasn’t any different. His determination and pressure were instrumental in the first goal.
Gini Wijnaldum – 6 –
Coming off his best performance in a Liverpool jersey, Wijnaldum reverted to the inconsistent form that plagued his game the previous two years. I wouldn’t say it’s entirely his fault though because with Henderson’s return to the lineup, he was moved out of the position he’d done so well at this year. Give Leicester credit too because their level of pressure on the ball in the midfield caused fits for all three men in the middle for the Reds.
James Milner – 7 –
Not that it’s saying a great deal, but Milner stood out as the best midfielder for Liverpool in this game. He ran himself into the ground again and never shied away from a crunching tackle. The international break should allow Milner to get his legs back before a pivotal clash at Wembley against Spurs on the 15th.
Jordan Henderson - 5 –
This was Henderson’s chance to put in a captain’s performance and make it difficult for Klopp to continue putting him on the bench each week. Sadly, the result wasn’t what he probably would have hoped. Henderson looked lost the entire time he was on the field and Klopp wisely subbed him off as the game was turning in Leicester’s favor to try and regain control of the match. I’m not sure what Henderson’s best role is in this midfield currently because he doesn’t seem to be the answer long-term in the no. 6 role once Fabinho gets up to speed and it’ll be hard to dislodge Milner or Keita in big games.
Mo Salah – 6 –
Whether it’s the battle with the Egyptian FA or something else entirely, Salah just hasn’t brought the same level of ruthlessness in front of goal (so far). He missed an absolute sitter less than five minutes into the match and couldn’t seem to get his head back into the game after that. He also tends to make the difficult pass or take a shot into traffic over making the smarter, correct pass to an open teammate and Klopp needs to address this sooner than later to help get the front three clicking in top gear.
Roberto Firmino – 7 –
Following three weeks of so-so performances, Firmino finally got his first goal of the season. He could’ve had one even earlier in the match and now that the first is out of the way, expect him to start putting them in at a quicker rate. The great thing about Firmino is he honestly doesn’t seem to care whether it’s him or anyone else scoring if the team wins. That’s a trait somewhat uncommon among central strikers and refreshing to see today.
Sadio Mane – 7 –
Four matches in and already four goals for the Senegalese superstar. Mane’s done well to make sure Mo Salah can’t overshadow him again this year and he looks a very strong candidate for the golden boot. Because defenses are focusing so heavily on Salah this year, it’s allowed that little extra space for Mane and he’s been devastating inside the final third.
Subs
Naby Keita – 5 – Naby Keita found himself on the bench after his weakest display last week against Brighton and by the time Klopp turned to him in this match, they really needed him to add some life following Henderson’s lackluster performance. Like Henderson, Keita also couldn’t find a footing in the midfield and will need to improve dramatically if Liverpool are going to claim three points against Tottenham in a couple weeks.
Joel Matip – N/A – Matip came on right at the end of the match to add extra height to the backline and help see the game out. He didn’t play any part in the game and therefore didn’t need to be rated.
Xherdan Shaqiri – 7 – Shaqiri came on at a tough time with the momentum fully in Leicester’s corner and he did spectacularly to curb it. He offers a great alternative as a sub, playing with purpose, drive and enough maturity to take the sting out of the game and frustrate Leicester by helping drain the clock to close out the game.
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