WELL blimey O’Reilly, might have finished 4-0 but for the most part it was on the sharpest of knife edges.
Up the smashing London FC out of their new stadium CAPITAL R Reds.
Simon Mignolet: B+
Was taking notes on the hugely improved Liverpool goalkeeper, three occasions he takes the ball under significant pressure, either catching or clearing his lines with minimum fuss.
Does really well with the Andre Ayew incident not to push it into his own net.
Nathaniel Clyne: B
Better for the England international, still a frustrating lack of awareness going forward but coped admirably with the constant early targeting from the Hammers.
Joel Matip: B+
Desperately unlucky not to open the scoring when he does everything right, almost too right, and ends up hitting the bar from point-blank range.
Coped with absolutely everything lashed at him and was happy to make up an extra body in midfield.
Dejan Lovren: A-
Him and Matip are sound when together, won some massive headers at 1-0.
Get the feeling the entire team is much calmer when they’re paired together.
James Milner: B-
Recovered from last week’s penalty miss well, had a couple of scuffed efforts that he might have done better with, but was a constant outlet.
Emre Can: B+
Recycle, recycle, recycle.
Hold and gave, and did it at the right time.
Another impressive outing for the constantly growing in stature German international.
Georginio Wijnaldum: B
Absolutely cunted it against the bar which eventually leads to Coutinho scoring his first.
Industrious, maybe holds on to the ball a little too long on occasion, but a vital cog.
Adam Lallana: B+
Doesn’t quite look 100 per cent and make a couple of iffy decisions first half, but looked sharper as the game went on.
With Phil Coutinho he offered a calmness and helped keep West Ham at arms length.
Philippe Coutinho: A+
Like Daniel Sturridge, enjoyed arguably his best performance of the season in a position where he can influence the game far more than on the periphery of the left-hand side.
A performance of absolute substance from El Magico, was calm personified when it mattered to score the goal that took the game away from West Ham.
Followed that with the maddest PlayStation goal of his career.
![LONDON, ENGLAND - Sunday, May 14, 2017: Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho Correia celebrates scoring the second goal against West Ham United with team-mate Adam Lallana [L] during the FA Premier League match at the London Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)](https://www.theanfieldwrap.com/uploads/2017/05/P170514-033-West_Ham_Liverpool.jpg)
Divock Origi: C+
Scores his goal, could have had a second or an assist, but up until that point stood out only because of how much he was struggling.
The difference between him and Sturridge in and around the box is telling.
It’s a given that he’s more suited to breaking from deep and holding it up but wasn’t working for him, but then could walk off with a brace.
Improves second period but it would’ve been hard not to.
Daniel Sturridge: A
Get’s THE goal that releases all the pressure, calms all the nerves.
Not just the goal, excellent link-up play and gets involved in Origi’s goal.
Would have had a second to his name but, y’know, Belgian’s are famously needy lovers.
Has an awareness and conviction in and around the area that no one else has in the squad, also benefits playing with someone within 15 yards of him.
Best performance of the season.
SUBS
Lucas Leiva: N/A
Ben Woodburn: N/A
Marko Grujic: N/A
MANAGER
Jürgen Klopp: A
Get the impression he got the lads in at half-time and told them to go for it and fuck the consequences, that he’d cop for that if it didn’t work.
It did.
Head Boy: Philippe Coutinho
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Pics: David Rawcliffe-Propaganda Photo
Saw glimpses that second half may have got Origi back on track. I hope so. Milner must be exhausted. Have we suddenly cracked our Anfield line up with Coutinho in this hole or is it only suited away ? Overriding feeling is gratitude that after the Oh.My.God. Corner that they just blew them away and I would love to know if Klopp did go down the ‘fuck it I’m underwriting everything’ or West Ham just couldn’t be arsed.
Can we let Sturridge go in the summer. Should we?
I don’t feel like we lose anything by keeping him. I would only let him go if he asks to go.
Well that was great. Finally, finally he broke the 4-3-3 mould and played a diamond. Anyone who thinks Bobby F’s a better player than Danny Sturridge is an arse: what a difference he made today. Such a shame his body hates him.
Why compare them? They’re patently different types of striker. But play them both as a two, Firmino slightly deeper, with Coutinho behind him…all day, sir.
Like the new rating system Andy. Agree with you on the grades.
Sturridge deserved a second.
Milner looks spent. Original needs fine tuning, but he will come good.
Klopp gets a A- for finally trying this system. He is so rigid in his approach with the 1 striker approach.
I hope he remains adaptable for the last game.
I hope Anfield Colosseum turns up instead of the Anfield Library next weekend.
No mercy for the relegation fodder.
Happy to see the scum lose today as well. I wish they bottle it against Ajax.
Up the Toxic Reds!!!
Swarbrick A++
Had me spitting out my tea with your Wijnaldum opener ;) What a result. Why wouldn’t JK keep Sturridge? No other LFC player makes me feel so calm with the ball at his feet.
Also like the school remark rating system. – Feels familiar to the one used in Germany and IMHO easier to rate a performance. With the 10 points system a “6” or “7” was average which is kinda weird. Here a “C” is right in the middle. Congrats!
I don’t know if it’s just me but I thought the way Sturridge played gave the other players a bit more confidence to actually take the ball into the box rather than frequently shooting from distance, something we’ve been guilty of at times.
I won’t hear a bad word said about Milner because although he’s, understandably, been a bit ragged at the end of the season few players have committed more to the team than him. He’s had to shoulder the captaincy for a large part of the season while taking on a new position at the age of 31 – as well as scoring all but one of his penalties. I don’t think he could’ve physically done more for us and that’s all you can ask of a player.
I couldn’t help noticing Coutinho hardly broke into a smile during this game, even though he scored twice. I’m probably being paranoid but I wish he looked like he was enjoying himself a bit more.
Finally, at what point do we have to concede Mignolet no longer has to look over his shoulder for fear of an outside goalkeeper taking his place? He has been consistently at an acceptable standard for months now and there’s no sign of his form dipping. I don’t believe there’s another keeper that we can realistically sign who’ll perform better than he currently is. When Joe Hart is leaking five goals in a game maybe it’s time we appreciate what we have.
I agree that at current levels we would find it hard to do better than Mignolet. I disagree he has been at acceptable standards for months. For me, an acceptable standard involves commanding his box. He has been here 4 years and done that for a month or so. But in that month or so, he has looked a totally different player. Now when they lob one into the box, I’m thinking Mig will take that and all will be well with the world, whereas before it was ‘oh, ****’.
Coutinho can smile when the job’s done
First half’s right goal post: A++
Love the comment and grading for Klopp
Shout out for the linesman. Sturridge looked a mile offside at first glance. That was a very good decision to get right with the naked eye.
I’d also like to think the ref noticed that Reid initiated the contact with GW though he might have just bottled it.
I’d dock a point from Lovren to a B+ for the ‘pull his shirt then ignore him’ moment with Ayew. Could have been a different game after that brain fart. The joy of watching the last 15 minutes with no fear, how I’ve missed you :-)
Brilliant!! The best match rating of all? Jurgen, and I would love that to have heard that team talk at half time!! Great writing, and brought a smile to my face:)
sturridge isthe best player one of them on the team.