Mohamed Salah’s first half strike didn’t stop it being a Saturday to forget, but did ensure Liverpool claimed all three points in Yorkshire.
Without a win this season, Huddersfield came determined to spring an upset and will feel they deserved at least a point as they often worried a Liverpool side devoid of organisation and rhythm.
Jonathan Hogg struck the woodwork with a 25-yard rocket shortly after Salah had scored to go closest for Huddersfield, who were shut out by the Reds despite enjoying a wealth of territory in the final 15.
Here are your player ratings, in which I struggle to distinguish what deserves a 5 and what deserves a 6.
Defence come through struggle unscathed
Alisson Becker (6): Makes one good save from a Depoitre header and I actually think he’s got Billing’s free-kick covered, you know, the one that woke you up a bit? Good on crosses, corners and the like. Needs to learn he should avoid passing to a certain Croatian at all costs.
Joe Gomez (7): GET HIM BACK TO CENTRE-BACK. Turning in 7/10’s at right-back is all well and good but I prefer my team sheet’s without Dejan Lovren. Really nice pass to Shaqiri to open up space for the goal.
Virgil van Dijk (7): Looked like he couldn’t be bothered, as if the mess unfolding in midfield ahead of him wasn’t worth his time. Fair enough, really. Rarely flustered.
Dejan Lovren (5): Keeps his clean sheet and doesn’t really mess anything up hugely in the end, but a last 15 minutes where he swung at the ball more than a golfer literally failed in a last ditch attempt to hack down his man costs him a six.
Andy Robertson (6): Was alright if not amazing, think he can do more going forward than he has been recently.
Midfield lose the battle, but win the war
Jordan Henderson, James Milner, Adam Lallana (5): Don’t know if Klopp should take the blame for this one, but I feel as if the midfield as a group deserve lower ratings than I can bring myself to give them individually? Lack of cohesion and balance. Got passed around by bloody Huddersfield. They’re awful.
Jordan Henderson (6): Hope his hamstring’s okay given the injury luck recently but him going off was arguably a blessing in disguise.
James Milner (6): YES LAD! WHAT A PRO! RUSHED HIMSELF BACK TO ENJOY ANOTHER AVERAGE GAME! Seriously James, take a week or two, get yourself back into top shape and re-kindle those performances of August-September. Nothing particularly bad but seems to have lost sharpness all of a sudden.
Adam Lallana (6): Did a couple of nice flicks which annoyed me nearly as much as the rubbish flicks, of which there were many. Was more on the pace than I expected him to be, whether that’s a compliment or not is up to you.
The SSS(hhhh) attack are kept quiet
Xherdan Shaqiri (6): Played a weird role, was probably more midfield if I’m being honest but my ratings template is 4-3-3 and we all need to get on with our Saturday’s. Nice weight of pass to Salah, lively going forward apart from that. He really can’t defend, bless him. Not for lack of trying, he’s just bad at it.
Daniel Sturridge (6): Think he linked the play well at times but will be left disappointed by some decision making in and around the area.
Mohamed Salah (6): Looked a little more like his usual self, really nice finish for the goal. Get a few against the relegation fodder in the next few weeks and he’ll be back to normal.
Star substitutes help
Georginio Wijnaldum (7): Played a big part in some control being regained, looks so much more suited to the six role than Henderson that at this point it’s becoming ‘when’s Gini back in at the six’ rather than when Fabinho is replacing Henderson. Bearing that in mind though…
Fabinho (6): Had a really bright 20 minutes, used the ball well, broke up counters. Even drove past a few players in one good move.
Roberto Firmino (N/A): Came on and actually played midfield, mad.
