THESE took four points off us last year. You know what grates the most? Their manager’s trackie bottoms. Quite clingy, weren’t they? Remember being fuming about them. Anyway.
Simon Mignolet: 7
Did well to stop a corner at the start of the second half. That was about it, wasn’t it? Aside from a couple of warm-up saves. Looks good when he has got nothing to do.
Joe Gomez: 8
He’s always boss, isn’t he? He was boss here any road. Boss.
Degsy Lovren: 8
Did one of Albie’s patented back-heel tackles first half, but won the ball well as opposed to kicking their fella and simultaneously proved that the liner, like all liners, is a bellend. Showed bravery beyond that of the lion out The Wizard Of Oz for the goal, which frankly, was a bit of a surprise.
Ragnar Klavan: 7
Started well, then got sucked into the middle of the pitch, gave the ball away and fell over trying to win it back. Started a passage of play that ended with Jermain Defoe hitting the post and The Reds doing a decent impression of last year for a bit. Looks like a fella who is the best person at footie in a dead little jarg country where everyone else plays skiing. That said, he played well second half.
Andy Robertson: 8
Played really well. Great run for Coutinho’s goal, neat and tidy and on the front foot all the while. Loves to leg it, doesn’t he?
Gini Wijnaldum: 8
Pressed well first half, sat well second. Probably our best centre-midfield partnership.
Jordan Henderson: 8
Broke a couple up well in the first 10. Part of a much-improved midfield two that set the tone for The Reds. At his best first half, on the front foot, first to everything. No surprise that he found it easier with a partner sat in with him.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain: 8
Boss mixture of a centre mid and a winger all at the same time. Did really well when he hit the post and generally impressed. Got man of the match off Alan Smith who must have a no Coutinho, Salah or Firmino rule.
Phil Coutinho: 9
Had hard lines with that free kick there, didn’t he? I’m not sure that the physics stack up as to why that didn’t go in the net really. Might get on the blower to professor Bri Cox, tell him space has fucked up a bit, possibly a wormhole. While he’s looking into that, he can have a look at Coutinho’s balance for the first. Looked like a bit of gravity-based cheating in fairness. He’s absolutely boss.
Mo Salah: 9
Such a threat cutting in. Had a couple of sighters first half and looked like a man who wasn’t that arsed that he missed as he was safe in the knowledge that he is the best person at football out of 1.2 billion people in Africa. If I was better than 1.2 billion people at something I’d be walking round bollocko lad, just a set of sunglasses and a pair of Adilettes on. Why are you bollocko? Better than every other fucker at roast potatoes, aren’t I? Showed how good he is by ragging their lad down the outside when it was nailed on to go inside, then went inside anyway and slotted it. Unplayable.
Roberto Firmino: 9
He works so hard but even if he didn’t he would be boss. Scores goals, creates goals, grafts like he doesn’t do either. Extra point for the flat top. Pure Kid N’ Play.
SUBS
Adam Lallana:
Finding his feet/tidy enough.
Dom Solanke:
Shoulder shrug/needs a goal.
Danny Ings:
Should have scored/terrible tattoos.
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Ben Johnson 10/10 – great whit and insight. Take a bow
I’m not a Henderson fan by any stretch but thought he was excellent today. Can’t remember the last time I saw him make so many forward passes in a game. But yes on an honest assessment hard to look past the Fab 3 today for motm. All the noises suggesting Coutinho will be leaving this Jan. No idea how we replace him. Lallana?
Coutinho going nowhere in January. Think he knows it , and so do Barca. Sadly fear he will leave in summer though .
Extra 2 points for Chambo for the interview after the match – took responsibility and told Sky to jog on!!
Agree
me too.
Great result and top comments to boot. Anyone else love how Robertson channelled his inner Moreno today and got bored defending, great to see him pop up at Centre forward and wide right.
Normal service is resumed
Get Johno on every show or else
I love the reviews and all the content on here. Used up have been a subscriber away and planning a comeback. Can I ask, though, why is the phrase “dead little hard country” make it into the published text? The pun would have worked as well merely stating Klavan is the best footballer in a country everyone else prefers skiing. I’m sure without any intention, the phrase (had to look up “jarg”) sounds a bit off, putting down smaller Eastern European countries. I imagine (from frequebt listening) this can’t be the actual attitude the author was going for, but maybe consider editing out?
Just thought I’d mention it. Besides that – Thanks for the excellent review!
Mate get with the colloquialisms – this is Scouse to the ground – it fits the context and the site
10 for the ratings, Ben. Wormhole!
1. Bit harsh on “Kool hand Klav”.
2. Ox deserved mom for destroying the post-match interviewer.
3. Dispense with the gloves Dom and I swear you’ll get your goal (or at least wear a long sleeve).
4. Llalana’s Cruyff turns (on the edge of our box ffs).
5. Joey G’s cigar and slippers.
6. Robbo’s runs (our new right winger!)
:-)
Can’t have Gini getting an 8. Was very poor in first half, doing his usual disappearing act. Henderson was excellent, which has been all too rare for a while now. Hopefully Klopp was sending a little message to Mane as well.
Couldnt agree more. Gini is fast becoming our most alarming player. Offers nothing unless at home against a top 6 side.
Not exactly sure what Gini did to deserve an 8 either. Thought he was distinctly average, disappeared at times as always. The other two in midfield , Henderson and Ox where excellent though.
AOC a fine performance. He gets an extra mark for his post match interview – full of respect and looked out for Coutinho!
I really don’t want to sound reactionary (but fuck it) but based on today I don’t want Can starting ahead of him ever again. Chamberlain wants to be here and to be honest I don’t think anyone knows what Can wants but I know who shows more desire for the team.
It was a really enjoyable evening of football. I love watching our lads turn up at an away ground and just show instantly how much better they are than the opponents. The passing was crisp, the pressing was incessant and the link-up play was a delight. So many great moments, but, bar obviously the goals, my favourite moment was Chamberlain clattering through Ibe and hitting the post with his left foot. Sounds mad but it kind of felt like the moment he arrived as a Liverpool player. I bet Klopp was fist pumping that one.
Barca can do one in January. Seriously. Not even for a £150m.
I wouldn’t swap Firmino for any forward in the league.
Salah is past superlative stage now. The sheer nerve of knocking it inside Daniels and then beating him for pace despite not actually running, coming back inside to beat Ake by not actually doing anything and then falling over but deciding to score on his way down. Does someone want to tell Roma it was only £30 something million they got for him because they are going to be dead angry when they realise.
You’re a funny fucker Johnno!
Agree with Omar K – I’m not a member of the Henderson fan club either but thought he was excellent today. Don’t know if being in and out of the team has had an effect, but was far more offensive today.
Don’t look now but I think I love Joe Gomez. Playing well beyond his years at the moment.
I think one of the reasons why Henderson played better in this match was because he seemed to have been told to get further up the pitch more often. Henderson is naturally more attacking than he is defensive and the way he’s been asked to play up until now hasn’t got that balance right. Against Bournemouth he was playing more in the final third which meant his passing was more direct. The balance between deeper defending and attacking suited Henderson more in this game and I hope Klopp realises positioning his captain really deep just doesn’t work for him.
Thank you SJB for pointing this out about Henderson. I and a few others have been saying this about his positioning. He is not a DM. I hope he continues to get a chance to progress.
About time Klopp realized this.
The first haircut on Bobby’s head that doesn’t look like the acceptance of a drunken dare. Except that it really, really does. Just in a good way, for once, that lovely mad bastard.
Completely disagree with the Danny Ings ratings: Bobby’s tattoos, as much as I like him, are tenfold worse.
Brilliant ratings.
MOTD wheels out some of the most clueless clowns in the history of football, yet this is absolute gold.
Bolloko analysis.