APPARENTLY at some point between playing at Anfield and now, Rubin Kazan have changed their name to FC Rubin. Feels like the kind of thing that should only be allowed in the summer, that. Luckily they haven’t also signed a lot of good players, and Liverpool played them off the park.
Apart from a mad 20 minutes at the end, when the game was bizarrely open, we looked comfortable and on top throughout. Seriously though, why was that last 20 minutes so open? It looked like a league game where, as the saying goes: “a point is no good to either team” rather than a European game where the away side are winning and should probably just sit in a bit. But anyway. Heavy metal football. Here are some player ratings based on performance and hair.
SIMON MIGNOLET: 4
If you don’t have much to do, we’ll always remember the one you nearly dropped at the striker’s foot. By nearly, I mean the “at the striker’s foot” bit. He defo dropped it. The spanner.
ALBERTO MORENO: 10
Everyone is going to be fuming with me when I give Moreno 10 every week for his haircut. In my defence, he did play well, too. Also in my defence, have you seen his hair? Vital when they tried to counter. His legs, I mean.
https://twitter.com/LFCMostar/status/662360409643462656/photo/1
MAMADOU SAKHO: 7
Even had Michael Own purring over his passing. And Michael doesn’t purr for just anyone. Some vital blocks when it was looking a bit hairy.
DEJAN LOVREN: 6
Does he have “moments” or does he just panic me because he’s Dejan Lovren? When he wasn’t scaring me, he was pleasing me. Which sounds kinkier than I meant it to.
NATHANIEL CLYNE: 7
Really good ball first half that is agonisingly taken away from Benteke’s head. Tidy on the ball throughout. Seems happier. Which is nice. Good to be happy, isn’t it?
JAMES MILNER: 6
See player ratings are a strange thing, because the only opinion that matters is the manager. Both in terms of he picks the team and also in that you never really know what a player has been asked to do. James Milner was popping up all over the place first half — was this by design or just him being a bit mad? Was the fact he was taken off, again, after 60 a sign that the manager doesn’t like what he’s doing, or was it always the plan to do that ahead of Sunday’s game? See, it’s hard this, isn’t it? I just make it look easy. Most of the time. Anyway, James Milner was unlucky not to score a couple of times. He’s always threatening.
JOE ALLEN: 9
Played really, really, really well. Got the man of the match assault from Jurgen after. Quite the strangely sort after prize, that.
EMRE CAN: 6
Ah, Emre. My scoring nemesis. He is undoubtedly an absolute nuisance to play against, particularly when you try to get past him. But in the first half in particular he played some of the worst passes I’ve seen since the harrowing time I watched a DVD of myself play. Still, I’ll give him a six or Emre Can Twitter will be on to call me a racist. Mad Emre Can Twitter you know.
ROBERTO FIRMINO: 6
Currently challenging Emre Can Twitter are the lads who think Firmino is Maradona. They’ll have enjoyed his sublime skill when he set up Milner to hit the bar. They’d have probably missed the times his decision making was appalling. Still, flair players and all that. He’ll be fine.
JORDON IBE: 9
Terrific first half, especially when he showed he’s much more than a touchline-hugging speed merchant. Then he tops it all with a winning goal. Seemed made up at full time, which is hopefully a feeling he will seek to repeat. Attacking players are there to win games and Jordon won us this one tonight. Made up for him.
CHRISTIAN BENTEKE: 6
Passes it really well with his chest. Doubts were raised about his abilities on the counter, but when you can draw two men and then casually play it off your massive chest into an onrushing midfielder, like he did second half, then he’ll do for me. Getting good at demanding the ball whenever he is in the box, regardless of whether his team mate is in a better position or not. Which is a perfect mindset for a striker. Even tried to tell Jordon Ibe off after the game when Ibe just wanted to buzz off how boss he was.
SUBS
ADAM LALLANA: 6
Steady as she goes. Did very well for the Ibe chance. Ibe should probably score actually. But never mind.
LUCAS LEIVA: 5
He made me feel better when he came on. Which is a good purpose for a footballer to have.
MARTIN SKRTEL: N/A
Bet he was absolutely fuming he had to take his big massive jacket off and jib the blanket for one minute’s play. I’d have outright refused.
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Liverpool pics: David Rawcliffe-Propaganda-Photo
Great ratings Gibbo. Thoroughly enjoyable as they should be.
You got Sakho & Lovren the wrong way round mind.
My new first stop after the game, these ratings.
Thanks, Gibbo!
Lol, the Benteke one regarding Ibe made up for the Moreno miscalculation. Someone mentioned the other week that the bloke can only run in a straight line, just so happens it’s parallel with his dodgy tram line barnet, that said a little bit more guidance from Jurgen and Alberto might sneak a few more goals/assists this season.
In a game when he had over 100 touches..yes over 100 touches. Emre game the ball away 9 times.
I mean, come on lad.
Cheers John, always a cracking read but in a game where we played them off the park as you say, these seem a little low?
I like the 10 rating for Moreno. :D Moreno and Ibe look lively and shows more creativity in term of movement with or without the ball. Midfield are much more compact and since we have 2 DMs in the team, CB looks more reassured and calm especially Lovren. Finally, something to hope for and we’re heading to the right direction!
~ We have 3 centre defenders for rotation at least. desperately need covers for our fullbacks.
~ Allen played an efficient game, not spectacular, that we need him to. Once Hendo and Rossiter come back we will have 6 to rotate the centre 3 positions.
I enjoy reading Gibbo’s player ratings but do get the feeling that he’s determined to not enjoy Firmino’s recent performances.
Just give it a go, John!
Was thinking the same, Thought Firmino was very good last night, good movement, getting into space, great skill at time, very surprised by John review but then ratings are very IMHO arent they!??
Personally thought Milner was in the main poor again but then thats IMHO.
As an aside, great to see us with so much possession and being proactive with it too, same as against Chelsea. Bodes well
Ibe MOTM for me with Sakho not too far behind. Good team effort without being spectacular. The Klopp effect seems to be gaining momentum. If he can sort out our shit corners and free kicks then he’ll be my fucking hero!
Voted for The Anfield Wrap and Jamie Vardy on the FSF website…I see yesterday’s press conference was the first of many steps by Hodge Podge to destroy yet another England player. That man is a legend in his own bathroom. How dare Vardy want to play in his favourite position after scoring in 9 consecutive games when Rooney is so close to smashing records and playing so well…
Finally, I see Michael Owen was omitted from the shortlist for best commentator…I wonder why? Zzzzzz zzzzzz zzzzzz. ..
“APPARENTLY at some point between playing at Anfield and now, Rubin Kazan have changed their name to FC Rubin. Feels like the kind of thing that should only be allowed in the summer, that. ”
Don’t tell Hull ‘Tigers’ that
-100,000 for Mig. He needs to release the ball a fuckton quicker than he’s doing. Why he insists on waiting for everyone to ambulate back into position utterly baffles me.
He also needs to check whether players have other players up their arse before bowling it out to them.
I am not usually shy to criticise Can, as his decision making can be diabolical at times due to him taking the whole arrogant thing a bit too far, but I thought he had a really good game on Thursday, one of the best I have seen him play.
Also, Lovren looked a lot “cooler” than he has since his first preseason match (something he could have definitely done with being) and actually looked a very good footballer (admittedly against very weak opposition). Being the optimist that I am, I am hoping this is the result of some great Klopp management and therefore something we could see more of.
We need all three CBs to be top form ~ that includes Lovren…He will be an asset for the team as long as fans stay off his back, I believe. He and Sakho may form the key CB pairing once Skert hits retirement age.
Can will continue to learn and improve….for sure. Whenever he does those stepovers in the attacking half, they are really like ‘slow motion’ stepovers and made me miss few heartbeats due to worries We might lose possession :)… one thing we can never fault is his fighting spirit and never say die attitude for the team….and remember he is still a kid….
Lallana is a 6 who was on the pitch for 29 mins and Firmino is a 6 also playing 90 mins, where’s the logic in that! I can assure you Firmino did a lot more than Lallana in the game! Also Firmino is the closest to the style Suarez plays, and I can see him improve further, he just needs a goal, then the floodgates will open!
Yeoh bro…taking player ratings too seriously is bad for health…
take it easy…
It’s way too subjective…just like rating the Queen vs M Thatcher vs Marge Simpson. (maybe some sock wanker in the forum has an opinion?:)