DON’T care if we conceded two in the first half, that’s the finest 45 minutes of football of any team you’ll see this season.
Also, a caveat, see that picture, that was essentially my view for the game so if the ratings are a bit off, it’s one of them.
Up the partial sight of the pitch Reds.
Loris Karius: 6
Mixed bag – Kicking, which is supposed to be his strong suit, was way off today.
HAVEN’T SEEN THE FIRST GOAL BACK SO DON’T KNOWN IF HE WAS AT FAULT OR NOT, SOZ.
Made two regulation saves and took two crosses, so maybe a start of sorts and something to build on.
Nathaniel Clyne: 7
The weather was very mild for the time of year, with a slight wind coming in from the west.
Nathaniel Clyne was good.
Joel Matip: 8
Everyone had worries about Christian Benteke.
Everyone apart from Joel Matip.
Dejan Lovren: 7
A big fat bonus point for character. Has an absolute ‘mare for the first Palace goal but goes up the other end and makes massive amends.
Only seen the second Palace goal side-on so don’t really know who should have done what.
Alberto Moreno: 6
Was doing fine until he does the standing still with his hands behind his back thing to let Wilfried Zaha cross for Palace’s second.
Guessing he might have done well for Emre Can’s goal but couldn’t really see.
Jordan Henderson: 8
Lashed everything in today, tackles, hard yards, words in the refs ear and rounded it off with a sex ball for Roberto Firmino to settle ALL the nerves.
Emre Can: 7
Again, probably hindered by the view, but looked ring rusty in patches. Was a decent screen for the back four when the ball was being lashed up to be contested.
Adam Lallana: 7
Shows incredible bravery in possession and isn’t afraid of trying to set the tempo.
Lost it a few times centrally in awkward positions but if they’re the risks then so be it.
Fantastic footballer.
Philippe Coutinho: 10
On current form, the best player in the league.
Sadio Mane: 8
Ran his arse off and didn’t give an inch, forced a great save from Steve Mandanda and missed one he should’ve buried.
Terrifies the life out of opposition defenders.
Roberto Firmino: 10
On current form, the best player in the league.
SUBS
Georginio Wijnaldum: 7 (subbed on 76′)
Shored up the midfield well, looked far more in control with him on the pitch.
Hates, hates, hates losing possession of the ball and almost always wins it back, on the rare occasion he does.
Divock Origi: N/A (subbed on 89′)
Ragnar Klavan: N/A (subbed on 92′)
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Moreno does stand back a little for the Zaha cross, but other than that he was terrific. An 8 for me.
He doesn’t just stand back a bit – his positioning is ridiculous, not blocking the angles at all. He also has very little game sense. But then there is the moment in the first half when someone who has apparently not seen him play puts it past him and tries to run after it. Moreno puts out his cigarette, gets up from his deck chair, moves about 80% of the way through the gears and gets there easily. That’s Moreno – he can’t defend but he can’t defend very very fast indeed.
Other than that, the pressing is insane. At one stage, Palace needed four lucky bounces to go 10 metres.
Massive, massive 3 points for mine today. Not everyone will come away from there unscathed.
I also love how Klopp is already making sure the fringe players get their 10 appearances.
I honestly believe that playing moreno was what made us so amazing in the first half. That extra attacking option with him there makes us even more dangerous!
Milner comes inside a lot and provides a steadying influence when we’ve got the ball and is better defensively, but moreno pace and directness is certainly interesting; he linked up fantastically with coutinho at times.
Now, obviously you have to ask if that extra attacking is worth the danger he brings to our defence. Probably not; and milner is great, and also a leader, and there doesn’t seem to be a space for him in midfield. So things will probably stay as they are. Certainly was interesting watching him link up with coutinho. 8 for me too.
Cabaye is a snidey cockwomble, by the way. I’d gub the prick if I played against him.
Hi Andy – agree with what you said. when you get a chance to watch it back, why does our goalie jump with his hands down and not up for the first – seemed a bit mad to me as he was well inside the box…just sayin’ like. Up the unplayable reds
I guess he doesn’t know where the guy is gonna kick the ball. But as I mention elsewhere, he’s hardly the epitome of calm.
Keeper had to made a decision — stay back and defender got back for a blocl/tackle OR rush out and punch the ball. He chose the later with split second delay and achieved nothing. Indecisive.
The saves were routine that Bogdan could have made easily.
This keeper is really low on confidence and that flow through to our defending in set pieces.
(I have anything against this young keeper, I really want him or any of our players to get 10/10 always. but we can’t risk the title chance by allowing thus kid on the job training)
Think this is kind of harsh. Damned if he does, damned if he doesn’t decision to be made. Stay in his line and challenge Macarthur to beat him one on one,or rush to intercept him.
Saying that, once he decided what to do he cocked it up to say the least.
My point being – he shouldn’t have had to be clearing up Lovren’s shite up anyway.
Jimmy, I got your point that the keeper should not be made to mop up the mess created by Lovren.
But overall play, since his first game for us — 0-3 win at Derby, this keeper has not been giving much confidence to the defenders ahead of him. I am not comparing him to our other keeper Mig. But I am ranking him against the top keepers that current Arsenal, MU AND spurs have. My point is that — We are Liverpool and we should not have any real or perceived weakness in key position. (Yes, Klopp is the boss and he knows what’s best for the team to be challenging, but based on what I saw during the past number f matches, I am still not convinced if this keeper is the right one for us for the long term). Time will tell, I guess.
Agree on moreno mate. Thought he was more reserved on his diving in although he still had a moment in the first half. Thought Karius saves were more than regulation but agree on the rest. Sex ball lol.
Hilariously poor as always Andy. Lovren and Lallana stink the place out and get 7/10.
Even with his “bonus point”, Lovren was three.
Lallana was shocking. Terrible in possession, crap passing.
And the comedy rating for Moreno sums you up. You’d have given Milner a 9 for that performance.
Bet you miss Brendan. Some effort banning all criticism of him on your podcasts in return for bits of info.
Wow, you’ve managed to talk an awful lot of shite there, Paul. “Banning all criticism of him on your podcasts in return for bits of info.” Ha ha ha ha. As conspiracy theories go that’s a new low. Have a bevy, the Reds won.
Lovren was probably a 5 for me. Lallana didnt ‘stink the place out’ at all. A decent 6 with loads of work rate. Can’t please all the people, eh? Liverpool win and play some stupendous football, and still people complain.
Never read as much shit spouted Paul. Clearly a personal vendetta against Andy and TAW. If you hate their ratings so much, why rate?
Not even sure you understand football after that lallana comment. From where I was stood in the away end, Lallana had a good game and got a standing ovation going off.
You hear/see that from behinf your keyboard?
2014/15 called and wants its’ hysterical Lallana opinion back, Paul. He’s been boss you tit.
Paul, you sound like you’ve had too much Hendricks!!! The twitter echo chamber can be a terrible place, try going the game instead
Sounds like you’re enjoying Jürgen’s Reds, Paul. We’re joint top so can’t be doing too much wrong. Crack a smile fella
Paul… Have a spliff and chill.
Taw advocating drug use here?
Did TAW say it?
No. Definitely not. Advocating was a v bad choice of word. My apologies.
Should taw be publishing an advocacy of drug use?
Paul, these ratings are not definitive. It’s all just numbers on a screen. Andt doesn’t submit them for an exam. Calm down and have a pie.
Moreno was the bleach blonde Jordi Alba first half hour but went back to being his dozy self soon enough.
Lovren is a few sandwiches short of a picnic as well and it was nice of him to remind us all of this. He’s just found a way of hiding his madness better under Klopp and well in to him for that.
Everything great about Liverpool’s play revolves around Coutinho’s brilliance in the way Gerrard or Suarez would define a good Liverpool performance. He’s genuinely world class if he keeps this form up.
Not everything great about Liverpool play revolves around Coutinho. Sure he’s awesome but there’s so much more to this team than having to pin it on one player, the superstar. Firmino’s goal is an incident that didn’t. There were probably others.
‘Revolves’ was the wrong word to use sorry. ‘Represents’ or ‘influences’ would’ve been better. Obviously he’s not involved in every goal/chance.
What I’m trying to say is that when it’s at it this Liverpool team plays Coutinho football if that makes any sense (e.g. Henderson’s through ball for the fourth like you mentioned).
Goot to see Selhurst Park never changes. I remember that view from the 1990s….
How dare you use the term “rusty” to describe Emre. How very dare you.
“Ball And Chain”
Come on, come on
Get on your dress and put on a smile
Lets lose this place
and get out awhile, awhile, awhile
You don’t need nothin’ fancy
Just a whole lot of attitude
I’ll be your man now baby
If you’re doing what I want you to do
I keep on tellin’ ya
[Chorus]
She’s my ball and chain
My lock and key
And I’m liking it baby
She’s my ball and chain
My lock and key
And I’m liking it good
I’ll t-t-t-tell ya
Momma always said
There was plenty of fish in the sea
So I baited my hook but good
And caught one for me, just for me
She’ll set you up with her body
And then knock you out with charm
She’s just a little too nasty baby
But that never did me no harm, no
I keep on telling ya
[Chorus]
And she’ll always be wrapped tight around me
I t-t-t-tell ya
They all get a solid 10 from me…. (Big Phil nudges a 15).
They were all on the pitch. They contributed. Fair enough. Some were a bit shit. Others sublime. But they contributed to doing the business.
Couldn’t give a flying wotsit about the detailed analysis.
THREE FUCKING POINTS. Thats its. Nothing else matters.
On current form I can’t think of any two players in the world who are playing as well as Coutinho and Firmino. At this moment I don’t think any team would stop us scoring.
I assume you don’t watch a lot of football outside the Reds and you have forgotten about the Utd game? Here are two names for you:
Messi 14 in 12 with 6 assists. Suarez 10 in 14 with 5 assists.
Both our Brazilians playing very well, but lets turn the hyperbole down.
To be fair, Moreno would have got a 8 if his name was anyone but Moreno. Saying that, it was 1:30AM in Perth and I had had some bevvies.
Firmino could be the buy of the season, class, class and a touch of class to top it off.
Up the early morning Reds.
Not having Lovren a 7 – absolute howler for the first and beaten by a shorter bloke on the second. Moreno a 6, barely put a foot wrong and was great going forward. Ah well. Up the Reds.
On current form, the most hilarious writer in the internet-o-sphere. Much like the Reds, doesn’t even seem like he’s kicked in to the highest gears.
Like just about everyone at 3-2, was wondering about the psychological damage should the match end 3-3. The first two-thirds of the 2014 match was probably the best football I’ve ever seen, even Joe Allen getting a header, but the first half last night was pretty close. Not sure if I could have survived a draw.
That said, I wasn’t all that bothered about the insane pass by Lovren. There was a time when it would have cued a mental breakdown leading to a week-long rant about these mistakes, but I kind of felt “He’s not going to have much more of that.” It helps that Matip is the most unflappable man alive. Seems like he could deal comfortably with a prison riot.
Moreno still registered an “Oh, FFS” for that arms-behind-the-back routine, but I wasn’t overly bothered because Milner can’t have a bug all season.
Raise a glass for Henderson, who has become the captain we needed, if not the sort we wanted.
Up the madcap Reds.
Walter, love this description of Hendo.
“Raise a glass for Henderson, who has become the captain we needed, if not the sort we wanted.”
But our first half attacking moves must have been as good as (or even better than) any in 13/14 season, and without the big name stars such as Suarez or Gerrard.
Totally agree with the Moreno comment seem to remember last year klopp being asked about conceding headed goals. And he said why was the cross not blocked he sees how important it is. Moreno if he can’t dive in and get the ball rarely blocks the cross.
All in all Milner can’t come back soon enough.
In before the Moreno defence force rips into me.
Up the redmen
asking a guy who barely saw the action to do the ratings ? yep that sounds a good idea