THE player ratings from Liverpool’s 2-1 League Cup fourth round win over Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield.
Simon Mignolet: 8
Thought he did very well and showed massive professionalism, given his current situation. Made a couple of very smart saves and has clearly been working on his deficiencies.
Also, dealt very well with the ball at his feet, character certainly not in question which may come as a surprise to many, including me.
Trent Alexander-Arnold: 8
The rising star of the academy, and Gibbo’s poster boy, didn’t disappoint. He’s unlucky to have Nathaniel Clyne in front of him otherwise he’d have at least a dozen first team appearances under his belt. Has all the tools and didn’t look out of place at all.
Lucas Leiva: 7
Not seen the penno back but looked very harsh, assured and aware as ever and was visibly cajoling the younger lads around him and offering guidance.
Ragnar Klavan: 6
Feel a bit harsh giving him the lowest rating of the lot as he wasn’t even that bad, need to remember that six is about the medium rating. Had Joel Matip not been so impressive recently this may well be a seven, which tells you everything about perception, as it has very little to do with him.
Alberto Moreno: 8
The blonde bomber, like Mignolet, under the microscope but did his chances no harm whatsoever. Was smart in possession and even managed a 720 with twist tackle for a further bonus point.
Kevin Stewart: 7
England’s number 35 did himself proud. Had an iffy 10 minutes late in the first-half but showed why the club are so keen on him. The modern everyman in the Liverpool midfield.
Georginio Wijnaldum: 8
Suited being the most senior of the midfield three. Dominated, lead and guided, despite only a handful of Liverpool appearances under his belt. Can see what he offers in the right system and it looks like Jürgen Klopp and the gang can see how to make the most of him.
Marko Grujic: 7
The big Serb with the big shirt back in for his first Anfield start and didn’t disappoint. Looks like he needs to grow into his body a bit but potentially has it all.
Ovie Ejaria: 7
Massive vote of confidence for the 18-year-old and he didn’t disappoint. No fireworks but massive maturity. Huge symbol of the closing gap between Kirkby and Melwood.
Divock Origi: 8
Under pressure to show and show he did, despite not getting on the scoresheet. Full of close control, clever flicks and awareness.
Might be a issue of nerves because he looked like a completely different proposition than he has done of late.
Deserved at least one tonight.
Daniel Sturridge: 9
Should have scored a hat-trick at least, and he’ll know it, but hit the target every time. Still the best striker Liverpool have by a distance and he showed it. Put a couple in and could have had a few assists too.
Also, side note, as you might have not have seen it on the TV, but he’s absolutely first class when Origi goes down with cramp. Alerts Klopp and the staff early and then leads the applause for him. But he’s a selfish prick with an attitude and that.
SUBS
Nathaniel Clyne: 7 (subbed on 68)
Blah, blah, blah.
Danny Ings: 7 (subbed on 68)
Finally gets on, misses a few despite hitting the target but didn’t do himself any harm.
Emre Can: N/A (subbed on 89)
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There was one moment where the Spurs right-back received the ball and their right-mid started a run into space behind Moreno. Albie was tempted to do something mental and do a flying two footed tackle to head on the right back, but he checked behind him, saw the run and stayed with it. I bloody loved it.
Very happy with that result. Basically our shadow side beating theirs. Our prospects genuinely looked a cut above. Alexander-Arnold dominated N’Koudou, who is rated highly. Stewart impressed me and he often does. Ejaria is cool as you like too. Saw glimpses of last season’s Origi tonight. That move to leave Wimmer standing is illegal in 18 countries.
Love our strength and depth, the future is bright fucking red!
Origi should be chomping at the bit by the time Mané goes away to the African Cup of Nations, and on tonight’s showing he will be a great replacement.
Can’t ask Studge to do much more than he did tonight other than completely change his style of play to suit Klopp’s current 1st choice attacking options. It’s a weird situation but a good one for Klopp to have. We no longer need to rely on Studge which surely must make him more hungry to play? Win/win for Klopp and us!
Really enjoyed the game. Just wish Danny Ings had burst the net at the end…
Up the 2nd string reds!!
A 0 for Moreno for that bonce. Everyone in the first XI/league team should’ve been at home with their feet up. Can only got on late tbf but imagine Clyne injuring himself tonight?
It was a pen like. Lucas doing one of his ‘soft free kick around the box’ fouls but in the box.
Clyne gets injured then Alexander-Arnold gets his chance. Its football. Sometimes need to stop being precious about players possibly injuring themselves and focus on winning the game in front of you.
Love Alexander-Arnold celebration when Sturridge scores first. Pretty sure if he had scored his head would have exploded he would have been that excited.
0.2 for the half time “entertainment”! Can we just get back to having a golden goal update and some records from George please – it’s getting silly now!!
Good shout on the Sturridge applause for Origi. I also counted at least 3 clapping sessions for teammates who tried to find him with misplaced passes during the course of the game (on at least one of those occasions the attempted pass was shite, too).
Still trying to work out why Sturridge is the only one of our front line who is judged for what he DOESN’T do rather than what he does.
If we win the league or even come close then a front two featuring Sturridge and Origi or Ings in February and March is how we clinch it when Mane is away at the ACON. Teams are knackered after Christmas, some of them on the beach already and then they’ve got that lot running at them relatively fresh? Strewth.
Didn’t someone at TAW point out how Klopp might use different players at different stages of the season to try and keep players in the squad fresh? Sturridge had a great impact when he arrived in January 2013 until the end of the season having been on the bench for most of the start of the year at Chelsea, and even in the following season he missed a big chunk of time between Hull and Stoke away with injury so came back relatively fresh. Similarly, Origi had a blinding end to last season after being a bit part player for the start. Some players might just do better towards the end of a campaign, when there’s heavier legs at centre half from a long season and an extra half yard of space in and around the box.
For now though it looks like they’re being pushed “down the pecking order” or “heading for the exit door” because “Jurgen doesn’t fancy them” though. Can’t see that, you need goals over a season and shit loads of them.
Seeing us field a shadow line-up which included Sturridge and Origi really brings home the squad depth we now have.
DId I miss the part where the crowd were singing Sturridge’s name? It seems like he would do something spectacular and all I could hear were the strains of “Anfield Road” or “Divock Origi” from the crowd.
Everyone under most pressure…the Ming, Moreno, the new kids…played really well. They should all be proud.
Am a fierce Ming critic but he deserves his place back on the evidence of the last month from both goalies. I get the number 1 thing etc but Clemence v Shilton didn’t do the Englsnd team much harm. We need the best performing keeper in the team to spur them both onto greater heights. Ref Mignolet last night…a huge improvement.