Liverpool Fans

Liverpool v Man City: Player ratings

Well, our topsy turvy season continues. Just when we seem to have lost our momentum, the lads come out and absolutely hammer a top four contender. It was as comprehensive a win as theirs was against us early in the season. Part of the credit has to go to Mancini who really messed this one up tactically for his team as he hoped to rest some starters for their upcoming derby against ManU. Add to that, the fact that he put in Mario ‘Self-Destruct’ Balotelli and you can see where he claimed the blame for his team’s failure. Now credit is certainly due to the boys who played much more cohesively and for whom the back line looked much more solid, but the comprehensive nature of the win must partially rest on the visitor’s ineptitude. 

As for the Reds, it was great to see Andy get his first goal and to do it in such style. The absolute joy on so many of the boys’ faces as they went to celebrate reveals how quickly they have embraced our new number 9. His second was more graft than guile but in itself revealed the new dimension Carroll brings to the club - the ability to make something dangerous happen out of nothing. Suarez has also brought that dimension in brilliant fashion and it has done so much for our play. I still think we are too prone to use Andy as an outlet, but his other positives are becoming so clear that it may not matter (this season anyway). 

So on to the ratings. 

Key: 

1 - Waste of space. We would have done better with 10 men than have him on the pitch.

2 - Not his best night. Maybe didn’t ruin the game for us but certainly didn’t help.

3 - Average. Neither was bad nor great or do anything of note. 

4 - Played a key part in the game - added punch, pace, passing, assists or even goals. 

5 - Man of the Match 

Any subs who were on for less than 30 minutes will probably not get a rating (NR) unless they prove themselves particularly important or impotent.

Reina - Largely untroubled through the night. Got to the high balls when needed and dealt with the few shots that came to him. A great, easy night at the office for him and probably a bit unexpected. Rating: 3

Flanagan - What a night for the 18 year old. He did a great job, kept it simple and actually imposed himself on Balotelli. Full credit to Kenny for his faith in the youngsters and they are rising to the occasion. We suddenly seem to have an embarrassingly rich collection of right backs. How easy would it have been for the coach to push Jamie over and put Soto in? For me, this was a key piece of the win and well deserved praise for young Flanno. Rating: 4

Carra - Marshaled the defense well and backed up Flanagan on the rare instances that he needed it. He looks much more assured and useful in the center than he does on the right and is an upgrade over Soto. Rating: 3

Skrtel - One of his better games I thought. Won a lot of headers and kept his feet for the most part. It helped both centerbacks that Tevez was replaced by Balotelli who had a horrible game. I don’t think I have ever seen a professional forward hit so many shots so far off target. That being said, Martin’s discipline was good. Rating: 3

Aurelio - Every rare time he is in the side at full back I get caught by how much he brings to the position. Simple sense and discipline when on defense and some serious class when on the ball. His ability to get out of tight situations with a pass instead of a 40 yard boot helps this team’s possession so much. I can’t help but wonder what his career could have looked like if he wasn’t injured 75% of the time. Rating: 4

Miereles - Brought more to the game this time, however I still think his talents are wasted out wide. It didn’t seem so terrible with Spearing having a great game, but when Jay doesn’t play well as in our game with WBA it doesn’t make sense. Provided the cross for Andy’s second goal and got forward well, but just doesn’t seem the goal threat that he can be when playing central. Rating: 3

Spearing - A really good game from the little midfielder. His passing was crisp, early, and more incisive than I’ve seen so far. He didn’t do well against WBA but really looked the part in this game. He is probably not going to be the man to unlock packed defenses or add a goal threat, but he is smart and capable. I’m giving him this rating for stepping it up after last week. Rating: 4

Lucas - Not really his best game. He didn’t make any major mistakes but didn’t defend as well as he has done and really added little to moving forward. Perhaps he was staying closer to home to protect Spearing, but it also played him out of the game. Rating: 2

Kuyt - A pretty good day for the Dutchman. His finish was excellent and his link play very good as well. He is a very smart and hardworking player which covers his lack of athleticism. He did a good job linking with and covering for Flanagan behind him. A solid game which would normally get him a 3, but his goal boosts his rating. Rating: 4

Carroll - Man of the Match. His first goal was a carbon copy of the one he put past Pepe in the first half of the season. It looked close enough for Hart to save but the power was too vicious. His hold up play still needs work but his link play with Suarez is coming along very nicely. If that continues to show growth - watch out EPL. Rating: 5

Suarez - A very close second for MOTM for me. His movement was excellent - defenders never know where he is going to show up - and there is clear chemistry starting to develop between him and Carroll. I’m starting to think buying them together was genius. Thanks Nando! BTW how are things in London?…….(I promise not to do this often but with so many good performances I needed another level for something just a little more special) Rating: 4.5 

Subs

Ngog - Did he touch the ball? Rating: NR

GSW

5 thoughts on WBA

I’ve been too busy to put up my score card this week. Suffice it to say that losing to WBA pretty much sunk our European hopes. Here are a few thoughts I had on the game however. 

1. Liverpool seems to play the wrong way with Carroll up front - We’ve been hearing time and time again about how Carroll can play with his feet and doesn’t upset the pass-and-move game of Liverpool. However, over and over again the back line hoofed balls up to him and completely bi-passed the midfield. He does an extraordinary job of winning them but it is not the kind of play that is easy on the eyes or that I expect from LFC. 

2. Martin Atkinson did a better job taking Carroll out of the game than WBA - The ref did nothing to protect Carroll as he was repeatedly hammered. When he finally boiled over because Atkinson wasn’t calling anything on him, he gets a yellow. From then on he couldn’t really mix it with their CBs and they had them. It was atrocious that he called Soto on the PK considering what he let them do to Carroll. It was a very unbalanced performance and really left LFC short. 

3. Miereles’ talents are wasted on the wing - I don’t know if its our lack of wing depth but it seems both Roy and Kenny feel that shoe-horning him into the wing is worth it. However, he was totally out of the run of play and didn’t add anything. I like Jay Spearing a lot but don’t think his inclusion is worth pushing Raul outside. When we went on our winning run, he was in the middle and bagged several goals. With him outside, he’s anonymous. 

4. The promise of Wilson - I have really been impressed with him. He makes me think a lot of Agger - comfortable on the ball, good movement, quick. He actually may be better than Agger in the air. I’ve heard a lot of talk that LFC needs CB cover - I think we have it in Wilson and Ayala. What we need are fullbacks. 

5. Roy must have been smiling as he went to bed - I know everyone keeps downplaying it, but beating Kenny must have been sweet redemption for him. Why we never played like that under him is bizarre to me, however he was never the coach to move LFC forward. 

GSW

Random thoughts for the week

-While I don’t know if he cares, I can’t help but wonder what Torres thinks as he watches Suarez. I am pretty sure the Spaniard would have had a few more goals to his name by now if he had stayed in the Red shirt with Suarez’s movement, trickery, and ability to set up his team mates. He was exactly what we have been missing and there is a chance their partnership could have been the next big star pairing in the EPL. Who knows, Carroll and Suarez may end up becoming that anyway, I just think it will take more time. 

-Speaking of Carroll, I still am not sure how he will end up fitting in the line-up for LFC. I tweeted with SI’s soccer editor Jen Chang about this and he seems convinced (as does Kenny) that Carroll has good enough feet to play a pass and move game. I agree he has good feet for a big man, but to me they are much less developed than his heading ability and whether they will get much better is unclear. Don’t get me wrong, I think he can be a real force in the EPL, I’m just not sure LFC’s playing style will prove it. 

-Rumors are that FSG’s plans for Anfield will supposedly be announced soon. What a difference some new owners make after the dragged out affair around the new stadium. As an American based fan who hasn’t been able to make the pilgrimage to Anfield yet, I personally hope for a renovation so I can experience the magic and the history. 

GSW

Liverpool v Sunderland: Player ratings

This was an interesting game in that Sunderland probably shaded the play a bit. Their attacking players are very dynamic and the prettier football was definitely played by the home side. The opening goal was certainly controversial but given some of the poor calls we have suffered, it was probably due karma for us. And again, it is the ability to win the games we should win that tend to make good teams great. It is a critical time for us to put together a string of wins as Spurs have a challenging stretch will hopefully be more focused on their tie with Real Madrid then on their EPL form. 

Once again Suarez worked hard and has been so integral to our successful form over the second half of the season. His absence was painfully obvious in our drab games against Braga. Carroll got another start and continues to look good - particularly in the air. We still seem to be working out how best to fit him into our system however and even Kenny was quoted bemoaning the team’s tendency to hoof it long to him instead of passing and moving. As a whole we did just enough to win without too much pain, although the early goal helped immensely. 

Now on to the ratings: 

Key: 

1 - Waste of space. We would have done better with 10 men than have him on the pitch.

2 - Not his best night. Maybe didn’t ruin the game for us but certainly didn’t help.

3 - Average. Neither was bad nor great or do anything of note. 

4 - Played a key part in the game - added punch, pace, passing, assists or even goals. 

5 - Man of the Match 

Any subs who were on for less than 30 minutes will probably not get a rating (NR) unless they prove themselves particularly important or impotent.

Reina - Despite good play by Sunderland, Pepe really had little to do. Most of the serious shots went right to him and he held them well. He had one little bobble where he came and missed a dangerous cross but it luckily didn’t hurt us. Rating: 3

Carra - Again, played ably and marshaled the defense well. I didn’t see him move forward much but didn’t make any mistakes at the back. Rating: 4

 Skrtel - Played a solid game at the back and won quite a few headers. He did a good job keeping the physical Gyan at bay and didn’t let himself get exposed by the Black Cats movement. Rating: 3

Agger - Composed as always and did a solid job of distributing the ball from the back. Didn’t move forward much this game but was defensively solid. Rating: 3

Johnson - Was really pretty anonymous. Tried to make a few runs forward but never really pulled them off and was torched around the end line a couple of times. I am maybe a little harsh with this rating but thought he was the weakest of the back line. Rating: 2

Miereles - It is interesting how Kenny is putting players in positions that they played under Roy, but now they play so much better. That being said I think the wing really marginalizes Raul’s talents. He played an ok game but isn’t going to be our answer for a wide player. I was tempted to give him a lower rating but I don’t think it was his fault. Rating: 3

Spearing - A candidate for man of the match and if his second half cannon of a shot had gone in he probably would have won it. He won the first penalty despite exaggerating the contact quite a bit and being sure to stumble into the box before falling. Defensively he needs work but I like his quick passing and he is much more willing to pass the ball forward than Lucas. He could be a real asset if we ever play a counter-attacking scheme. Rating: 4

Lucas - Put in his usual shift and was generally tidy with the ball. He didn’t really influence the play as much as he has in the past but more importantly didn’t make any mistakes. Rating: 3

Kuyt - Another solid if unspectacular game. Kuyt plays his part well, like Maxi, but is not likely to take your breath away. Moving forward I see his role as backing up Carroll as a target striker because we must improve our wing play. Rating: 3

Suarez - My man of the match. The difference between our game with him and without him were starkly revealed after these last two Braga games. His movement, pace, and trickery are so vital and are traits that are really lacking in the rest of the line-up. With Carroll up front and some new dynamic wing players we could be a real attacking force. Rating: 5

Carroll - Absolutely dominant in the air and unlucky to not get a goal after having a header cleared off the line. He won virtually every ball that came his way and once we can get used to having a player of that ability in the line-up we will do much better. He caused enough problems without being spectacular to win this rating. Rating: 4

Subs

Ngog - Probably not doing enough to keep him comfortably on the first 18 in the future, especially if we get some striking reinforcements. Rating: NR

Maxi - Ok. Limited minutes and is generally solid. Rating: NR

Cole - Came on in the 89th with little to do and didn’t add anything. Rating: NR

GSW