SO that completes a week in which Liverpool got battered away from home by a close rival and twice walked away from Anfield disappointed after dominating teams they are definitely better than with only a point each to show for it.
The Reds may have got what they deserved today after yet another defensive lapse that saw Burnley take the lead, but they did little to help themselves on the offensive end once again. Not clinical enough when presented with good chances — see also Sevilla — and too often taking long shots more in hope than expectation — see also Burnley away last season.
Anyway, here are the ratings…
Simon Mignolet: 7
Copped for a load of stick from those inside the ground but did little wrong in the grand scheme of things. Had some shaky moments but there was usually another culprit at the scene of the crime in those instances.
Biggest plus was how well he commanded his area in the presence of Burnley’s grocks. It’s something he hasn’t done often enough throughout his Liverpool career.
Trent Alexander-Arnold: 5
Full of endeavour as always but his youthful exuberance showed too much at times today. His crossing was off for most of the game, and it told late on when the Anfield crowd were at their most impatient.
Hard to say whether it’s the sort of thing he can keep playing through or whether Jürgen Klopp should be looking to protect him given his age.
Joel Matip: 4
For somebody of such a large stature he gets bullied all too easily and today was no different. Tasked with defending against super grock Chris Wood he was shown up time and time again.
Like Sevilla his only real positive influence on the game was the way he carried the ball out of defence.
Ragnar Klavan: 4
There were fears, as per usual, when his name appeared on the teamsheet at 2pm and the Estonian did little to allay those.
He seemed to lose the majority of his aerial duels and looked very shaky when Burnley pressed. In the end he resorted to getting it cleared up field at every opportunity which is either a good thing or a bad thing depending on which way you look at it.
Andy Robertson: 6
Another solid enough showing for the young Scot, his delivery should have caused Burnley problems but for a lack of options willing to attack the ball in their box.
Had a frustrating period in the game where he took on a shot from outside the area, which at no point looked like causing a threat, and not so long after dragging a cross/shot across Nick Pope’s goalmouth.
Emre Can: 5
One of Liverpool’s most frustrating players to watch when he’s not at it but up there with their best when he is. Today he was definitely the former.
Always seemed to want one touch too many, slowing play down and allowing Burnley to either close or get set. Shots at the end showed confidence bordering arrogance when he should have been more patient. Is always the one who looks the most arsed if that means anything.
James Milner: 6
Didn’t do too much wrong, always an option on the edge of the box and made some good runs within it.
Probably should have been hooked for somebody with pace as The Reds looked increasingly out of ideas though.
Philippe Coutinho: 5
Similar to last season he’ll be best remembered in this game for cutting in and blazing shots wildly in every direction but the Burnley goal.
Showed some good footwork but needs to do more to set up others when the opposition are so compact and resolute.
Mohamed Salah: 8
Liverpool’s only real outlet and looking more and more like the signing of the summer. Dug deep at times and wasn’t afraid to battle with Sean Dyche’s warriors which is perhaps something you wouldn’t have thought he had in his locker.
Seemed to be the only one who could keep a cool head around their box and that showed with the way he took his goal.
Daniel Sturridge: 6
Cut a frustrated figure today and makes you think he’s almost certainly not suited to this type of battle.
Where he did show glimpses of his touch and movement he usually cannoned his shot off a Burnley defender.
Roberto Firmino: 6
Tried to get the interchanging going with his mate Phil but they seemed slightly out of sync today.
Still showed his intelligence and good movement on occasion but it wasn’t enough unfortunately.
SUBS
Dominic Solanke: 7
A real bright spark when he came on which begs the question why he wasn’t given more time once the starting 11 had used up all their ideas of how to break Burnley down.
Unlucky not to have a goal to his name.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain: 6
Feel sorry for Chambo who has been brought on three times in one week late on in games where The Reds are either struggling or chasing in some capacity. That can’t be easy.
Again could have done with an extra 15 minutes.
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Klopp – shite timing again of substitutions. I thought they were bright and gave us something a bit more (Solanke very unlucky) but could have potentially won us the game coming on 10 minutes earlier.
Also minus points for the crowd for them ironic cheers when Coutinho started passing to Robertson in the second half, disgraceful that. Also for getting on Mignolet’s case for not playing the ball out of defence when they’re pressed up on our defenders. Knowledgeable crowd my arse, mostly just a bunch of moaning, fickle bastards.
Incredibly generous to sturridge there.
If Milner slides on through to him instead of his Hail Mary shit, or emre has any positional sense and heads a ball across the goal instead of going for glory studge puts one of those away and is an 8. Not convinced he’s suited to our play any more, but was constantly in good areas
How are we definitely better than Sevilla ..?
They have won far more than us in recent years, top 4 in a far better league, beat us in a final on neutral ground, far more experience recently at European top table.
Perhaps we spent more. That doesn’t make us definitely better.
We were the better team in that game is what he means, you dolt.
No player was worth more than 5 except Sallah
I don’t know what we do in training we keep making the same mistakes time and again can’t defend a corner worst still can’t score from one we create bucket loads of chances 2 million attempts 1 goal 77% possession doing nowt with the ball
Mingo standing there whilst 2 defenders go for the same harmless ball he could have shouted for them to leave to give us a goal kick but the panic and head it out for a corner creating more panic with 2 quick corners against us and he gets a 7 for what reason and purpose and a 6 for Chambo hahaha!!! what did he actually do when he came on
Firmino alongside Stu does not work Firmino was missing for large parts of the game
Sallah a 7 not an 8
Klavan is a 3 he should be seeing the danger that Matip can not head that ball and take the initiative and head it ferociously I saw that and was screaming for him to go for it lo and behold he stands there and the ball bounces and the rest is painful to watch
Make the players earn the marks stop dishing it out
Some good play today and in my opinion unlucky not to win. My biggest concern though is the crowd. Having enjoyed 50 years of going to the match the current ‘supporters’ are a fu*king embarrassment. The lack of understanding of what constitutes true support is staggering. A misplaced pass, a wrong decision or not being in the right place, all things that will happen receive such moans and groans it must affect the players. Some of the personal abuse that gets vented is appalling. The crowd that used to turn up week in week out which actually understood football and also understood its role in helping the side has been replaced in large part by people who come sporadically and expect to be royally entertained or they’re not happy and feel entitled to let the players know it.
I recall the fallow years under Shankly when the crowd stood with him and some duff players as it was the only way and pain and joy could be shared- we were in it together. That’s gone. There are those young old who still give it everything they’ve got and actually come to support the team and give the opposition respect when earned, but fu*k me, the miserable entitled class who turn up ready to pick the bones of every player and regard the manager as either film star or clown do my head in.
Cheap tickets and safe standing with people able to form a weekly bond with each other and the team might help. Pack it with young Scouser and the Kop might live again.
Could’ve, should’ve, would’ve…can’t keep glossing over ineffective performances with the same old half truths. The owners don’t spend dough and the manager, who has bought no holders in midfield and purchased 3 defenders for a combined total of around £12 million in 4 windows, plays risk football. It’s a straightforward footballing philosophy. Gung ho fast paced attacking football and lip service defending. Score more than you concede. That’s the Jurgen Klopp way. The excitement thrills ya but the hope kills ya! We have 5 or 6 players who can beat a man, which is incredible, but we’ve have never invested in a striker to reap the reward of such riches. He clearly doesn’t fancy Sturridge. So a lack of investment in the defence is not the only issue that needs addressing. Throw in the manager’s crazy rotation policy, weakness of the spine, the lack of leadership and the poorest captain in Liverpool’s history and it’s a kill me now moment. But despite the obvious failings, whether they be FSG’s or Klopp’s, I’d still maintain we are not a million miles away. So near yet so far as they say. Stop with the rotation nonsense and strengthen the spine of the team at the earliest opportunity. Or we can carry on as we are, fans can embrace the team’s split personality and we take to the forums to vent. Klopp in, but his stubbornness will be his undoing if he’s not careful. You can’t kid supporters. Up the reds.
Always nice to see a bang average club hold out and secure a draw against superior opposition – well done Liverpool!
“SO that completes a week in which Liverpool got battered away from home by a close rival…”
Manchester City? A close rival? If only.
The words of Ian Ryan are seeming extremely poignant: we needed 2 centre backs in that window. On the plus side Robertson and Solanke seem like two excellent signings
A bit harsh on Matip. He looks massive, but he is a quite sensitive guy somewhat like Skrtel. Less erratic on the ball but also less aggressive (in a negative way). So you will never get Can-esque tackles, but he got his qualities.
I think Matip will be great if VVD or some other CB is brought in to lead the back line, and the German becomes the No. 2. Then Gomez becomes No. 3 CB (or No. 1 RB), Lovern is No. 4, and Klavan sees the pitch only in desperate emergencies or early round cup ties. Another young CB should have been brought in this season, one who could have been groomed for a bigger role in the future.
So Liverpool really needed two CBs during the summer window, but got none and let another go to CP. Sakho wasn’t the long-term answer, but he’s better than Klavan, who is currently being featured in the starting 11.
Klopp is walking a fine line here, and he runs the risk of turning the LFC faithful against him if he keeps making public statements about the quality of his team’s defense that are proven false every time the squad steps out on the pitch. I still think Jurgen is the man for the job, but dammit coach, don’t talk to your supporters like we’re idiots. I’ve seen other coaches make this mistake and they soon become former coaches.
LFC didn’t do enough during the transfer window to improve the squad. Anyone can see that. Still, the team is still capable of finishing top 4 (Arsenal and Spurs have they’re own issues, apparently Everton’s brilliant transfer window wasn’t so brilliant after all, and I’m not convinced on ManU just yet). We have a pretty good idea Liverpool won’t win the title this season, however.