THE players and manager deserve great credit to go from Sunday to that. Perhaps the Manchester City players, just like their supporters, failed to turn up. But they are still big and good and need beating — and how they were beaten.
The tone was actually set by three lads who didn’t start on Sunday. Adam Lallana, Divock Origi and Jon Flanagan were full of energy and bite and the rest followed. Just when it looked like they might dominate the game but lack a bit around the box we scored and never looked back.
It’s a shame we didn’t push on and get even more, but maybe that’s greedy. A morale boosting 3-0 should be a great platform for the next few weeks. Bring on your Cockneys by the score.
Simon Mignolet 6
Just had a nice watch didn’t he. Best seat in the house.
Jon Flanagan 8
A couple of moments that pointed to a lack of fitness, but loads that showed his defensive quality. The sliding covering interception when Sergio Aguero looked to slip in Raheem Sterling first half was the highlight. Kicking the latter off the park by half time was nice, too. Just look better with him in the team. Might walk out on 38 minutes until he’s given a new contract.
Nathaniel Clyne 7
Less eye catching than Flanagan, but kept Jesus Navas very quiet indeed. Tougher for him going forward on that side but looked to cut inside to decent effect.
Kolo Toure 8
The recovery on Aguero second half was exceptional. Was generally no nonsense all night until then. A true leader at the back. Might walk out on four minutes until he’s given a new contract.
Dejan Lovren 7
A couple of shaky moments, but a decent 7 out of 10 and a clean sheet against that front four is miles from where he was a year ago.
Emre Can 8
If you’d watched him for the first time tonight you wouldn’t believe he was just 22. He’s at his best when he’s mean. He’ll barge you out the way one minute, Maradona turn round you the next. Loads more of that please, Emre.
Jordan Henderson 6
Couldn’t get his passing going at all first half, but much better second. His team-mates almost seem to be willing form out of him.
James Milner 8
Brilliant movement and finish for the second. Will never have the pace as a right winger to trouble a team like City, but can’t fault his industry and will. Adds an extra body in the right areas at the right time.
Adam Lallana 10
Sensational. Like a terrier when they had it and was gliding across the pitch by the end. It’s a decent hit for the first, but he’s even better for the third. Not bad for the second either. Is always so intelligent with his movement and so sure with his touch, but tonight he added fire and finesse.
Roberto Firmino 8
Nice pass into Milner for the second and cool finish for his own. Aside from that he was a key part of the pressing unit that helped us get on top.
Divock Origi 7
Started really well, holding it up and stretching play. Was a bit unsure about his movement when we tried to break, but sure that will come.
SUBS
Christian Benteke 6
Felt a bit sorry for him. Would have been licking his lips at a run at their defence, and then we bring Joe Allen on to play off him. They linked up well for Allen’s chance though. Also felt we should have given him the free kick he won on the edge of the area. Jordan Henderson can’t be THAT confident on dead balls.
Joe Allen 6
Typing this in bed. If that shot dipped in I’d be typing it from La’go.
Jordon Ibe n/a
Some good chuckles at these. Thanks John.
In ice hockey, they call it a “Gordie Howe Hat Trick” when you have a goal, and assist, and a fight. Wonder if they’ll count Lallana’s goal, assist, and handbags tonight? Love the needle he played with in the second half.
Have you ever seen the Welsh Allen positioned that high up the pitch? Seemed at times like Klopp told him to be a second striker.
In my little fantasias, Klopp turns Lallana and Allen into regular beserkers. Allen already looks like an extra on Game of Thrones, so you never know.
I’m starting to feel the love with Origi. I’m convinced that Can will be massive next season, but we might just see a break out season from the other, other Belgian in the squad.
For me, Flanagan will forever be defined by his Spurs goal and the fist pump after he puts the reducer on Milner. That’s enough credit in the bank to last about a decade. I just love to have him in the side.
is that the first ever 10??! he deserved it too! best game I have seen in a while, with this the best read I have had in a while!
Great work lads (TAW +LFC!)
YNWA!
Brilliant mate
Your Jallen comment :’)
Thought Flanagan was a touch rusty tbh but understandably so. Sterling must be such a nuisance to play against; can’t stand off but get too close and he rolls you so easily. Henderson and Lallana roaring on Flanno’s early tackle like fans after it was one of my favourite moments of the season.
Lallana looked the player we signed after that great season he had at Southampton. Missed a pen and then 3 days later to play the same team and put on his best performance for us… A well earned 10.
Milner’s best game for us as well. Like it when he decides to be Dirk Kuyt and not a limited centre midfielder. Celebrated his goal as well. A 10 from me (this is like Strictly, this)
And give Kolo and his short sleeves/red gloves a job for life at this club. What a fella. Have a 10!
You have re-branded Milner as the “New Kuyt”. that made perfect sense.
Sometimes we wanted Milner to be the new StevieG, or new Macca or new Alonso. He never was and never will be.
But a new Kuyt? Perfecto!!
Firmino gives the ball away more than my Labrador.
will join John for the next walk outs for Kolo and Flenno :)
Five men of the match:
~ Can: this is what Can is capable to do week in as he matures into this role. almost unplayable against. BEAST.
~ Flenno: he set the tone for the night how the fighting spirit in all 11 Reds should be. And that spirit was contingent to other team mates.
~ Kolo: Best performance in red shirt? just love him and his reading of the game. he made defending 101 looks simple.
~ Milner: (as Tom M mentioned above) he turned himself into Kyut for us tonight. Best performance in red shirt and fans acknowledged that. And Milner knew it too.
~Lallana: another best in red shirt performance. another Beast. Lallana will be in Klopp teams for the perfect performance that he put in especially in the 2nd half .
A real nasty performance. We reduced Manchester City’s best eleven to dust. This was a title chasing side in desperate need of a win and that’s what we do to them. That’s an insight into the future under Klopp right there.
So many good performances but how can you look further than Flanno’s reducer on Sterling? What a moment. Reminded me of his debut against these in 2011 or whatever it was.
Yeah that was 5 years ago now which is a bit mad. Won 3-0 in a similar performance of just swarming all over them as well.
Rio Ferdinand and Paul Scholes said before kick off that all of the squad needed to be out the door in the summer
Yeah I noticed that. Ferdinand made some good points but Scholes lurches from one contradiction to another. He managed in the same sentence to claim that nothing could be read into our performance owing to City’s ineptitude, before stating that nothing could be taken away from us because we were brilliant.
You can see now why he never said anything while he was playing. He’s not the sharpest tool in the box, and another player wheeled out on the box trotting out cliche after cliche.
Ferdinand’s alright by comparison, and Macca is the best thing on BT by a mile. Decent pundit
Yeah McManaman is decent. You’re quite right about Scholes. It’s all just clichés.
Ferdinand is not bad at all really. He speak with the gravitas of someone who is used to being a winner and his analysis reflects this.
*speaks
Walk out on 38 minutes and walk out on 4 minutes: very funny! A good read and mostly agree on them, as mostly on this side to be honest.
Generally agree with the ratings except i think 8 is being harsh on Toure, he was immense. The best center half performance at the club this year imo. I know people feel he has mistake in him but he has been more consistent than any of others this year too. Definitely deserves another year, maybe as player coach or similar.
Milner was boss too and probably warrants a 9.
Loved flannos performance too, not perfect but for someone that missed 2 years of football it was unbelievable. Surely he is first choice now.
Toure was top notch. The way he eased Aguero off the ball at the end oozed class.
He is definitely worth having around.
Yep, Kolo should definitely get a job at the club for life. Doesn’t matter what it is, when you approach your work with that much enthusiasm you can’t go wrong.
Spot on, Tom. Kolo just seems to give out tons of positive energy to the team around him. Even watching him on tele made me ‘feel the love’.
Clyne OR FLanno OR Gomez OR Milner > Moreno.
I hope Klopp sees that.
Great reds performance. Onto bogey team of the Palaces – it would go a long way to beat those boys. I think it would make me happy.
A win and we could be only 3 points behind Man City and Utd.
A lot to play for – c’mon you reds – How things could have been with just a few draws turned into wins and a few losses turned into draws
I am a beliver!
Agreed. Against ManC on Wednesday, with Clyne as left back, I admit I had less stress.
Some simple observations: Clyne would never allow the attacker to get inside (closer to the goal post) from him. Due to whatever reason, he he was left outside, he would never blindly tackle and give away cheap foul. He would tried his best to chase and get to the inside position again.
Moreno (as much as I was shouting for him as being the new Riise earlier this season) would do exactly opposite. It is getting more obvious that his defensive liabilities outweigh attacking contributions (if any).