On a day where Premier League records were set for attendance and fixture with the most goals, Liverpool were beaten, and beaten hollow by an enterprising Spurs team. The error-filled Liverpool’s defence gifted goals like charity and paid for it.
Read below if you care about ratings after such a performance.
Simon Mignolet (2) – Really poor decision making for the first goal. As a keeper, if you make a decision to charge out, you need to win the ball, else you are in real trouble. He was constantly put in trouble by his shambolic defence through that entertaining first half; not what you want as a nervous keeper. The second half was not much different with yet another Mignolet error leading to a goal. Time for Karius?
Joe Gomez (4) – Started at right back, but midway through the first half had moved to centre-back. He struggled to cope up with the incisive attacks from Spurs and with the centre-backs having a torrid beginning, he was put under undue stress. Gomez seemed to understand the basics of defending though, often using his body strength, positioning and pace.
Joel Matip (2) – In an ideal world, the Liverpool centre-backs go unrated, but hey, the world is not ideal. Stood appealing for offside for the first goal instead of covering Harry Kane. Was left isolated on a 2-on-1 attack for the second goal and incredulously decides to head the ball back into the danger area for Spurs’ third goal. The centre-back was nowhere in the picture as the ball moved from one Spurs player to another in the box for their 4th goal.
Dejan Lovren (0) – Possibly the beginning of the end for Lovren as he suffered the most horrendous half an hour of his Liverpool career. Constantly attacked the ball and missed it. His errors led to the first two goals and led to Klopp making his earliest sub in living memory.
Alberto Moreno (5) – Had a decent game, considering the result and performance. Was available to attack always and enjoyed his wing-back role considering his natural flair to attack. His crossing was way below his usual standards though.
Jordan Henderson (4) – Very poor defensively, especially in the first 20 minutes as Spurs by-passed the midfield with ridiculous ease. Redeemed himself partly with his great pass for Salah’s goal. Was pretty average post-Liverpool’s goal.
Emre Can (4) – Can started in the midfield, and had his very common slow start as Spurs waltzed into a two-goal lead. Can then switched to the right-hand side of the back three. Gave away the ball far too easily on a couple of occasions and his clumsy foul at the stroke of half-time resulted in Spurs restoring their two-goal lead.
James Milner (4) – Peripheral on the night, to the extent of not being noticed. The whole midfield put out a poor performance, and Milner was no exception.
Philippe Coutinho (6) – Had a decent night and deserved a goal, if not for Lloris’ brilliant goalkeeping. Always looked to release Salah at every instance. Lost the ball on a few occasions but at least he kept his head up.
Roberto Firmino (5) – Another off-day leading the line for Liverpool as Firmino struggled to have any impact on the game. Firmino often went wide as Salah moved into the middle. Questions remain if Firmino is indeed the answer
Mohammed Salah (7) – Salah continues to be Liverpool’s beacon of hope game after game, week after week. Every team has struggled to cope up with his pace and directness and Salah delivered yet again against the run of play. Spurs often had 2 or 3 players marking Salah, and that should be a compliment.
Substitutes
Oxlade Chamberlain (5) – Brought into a tough situation yet again, as he played on the left side of the attacking three. Showed incisive pace and drive to carry the ball into dangerous areas, but his final ball let him down. Deserves starts now after the bedding-in period.
Daniel Sturridge (N/A) – Heard his name once.
Marko Grujic (N/A)
klopp should be sacked. that is just the solution to Liverpool’s defensive issues. he saw the problem last season and yet refused to buy good defenders. I don’t blame lovren or any other defender. if I were FSG, I’ll just sack klopp after this match and tryvto hire ancelotti. klopp is even worse than Brendan Rodgers.
I hope the right people are seeing my posts. trust me people. klopp is not fit for this job since he can’t fix the issues. Guardiola came to man city last season, saw the problem and fixed it. now man city are flying and winning games. klopp has been here before guardiola, yet Liverpool is still suffering. hey people, can u all see the difference?
Defensive weaknesses for several years now and with Klopp having two years to sort them out. He has failed miserably. Alternating three average-at-best keepers will not make one of them top-notch, we simply haven’t got a central defender on the books – with Lovren falling apart now game after game and Matip rarely better than very average – we desperately need a defensive midfielder because Henderson isn’t remotely good at that, Moreno is STILL not good enough, Can is ‘iffy’, Wijnaldum is invisible most games, Milner hasn’t got the pace needed and we are the only team in the top league that thinks playing with a midfielder as a striker is going to work. Aguero, Kane and Lukaku will score thirty each this year, Firmino might get ten if his form improves.
The manager has no idea, defensively, we are a shambles. Get rid of him now and install the duo of Gerrard and Alonso to get some organisation into the team. New keeper (why didn’t we go for Pickford?), Robertson in at Left Back, TWO top quality centre backs, a defensive midfielder and a striker must come in and to Hell with the cost. Sadly, I’d sell Coutinho to bring in the money we need on the basis that it would still leave us with Mane, Salah and Firmino to support a new striker. Klopp has to go, he’s clueless defensively.
Why can’t I repeat a comment if it’s true and relevant?
Why can’t I repeat a comment if it’s true and relevant? He sold Sakho and Lovren, got what he deserved.
Why can’t I repeat a comment if it’s true and relevant? He sold Sakho and kept Lovren, got what he deserved.