A result for Liverpool was never in doubt as it now reaches 16 Merseyside Derbies without a win. It was the first derby I’ve watched in a while, and it’s always been any other game to me. We’re a bottom half at best team playing one of the best teams in the country.
The football we play isn’t good enough to beat them and this game and the way we went about it should spell the end for Allardyce at the end of the season. His way of playing is now no longer getting results in addition to it being abhorrent to watch.
Wayne Rooney needs a spell out of the team as he is currently churning out horrid displays and we need to re-introduce Davy Klaassen.
But of course I’d say that.
Here’s my ratings.
Tosun signed at half time actually, so I’d be silly if I didn’t mention that.
Help.
Jordan Pickford - 5
I’ll let you off.
Jonjoe Kenny - 4
Not his usual bombarding self tonight, as he is being severely limited by Sam Allardyce.
He was at his best in the 4-0 game against West Ham and the 2-0 win over Huddersfield, when David Unsworth’s influence was still over the team.
Mason Holgate - 8
By far the best outfield player tonight as he did his best to cope with the Liverpool attack. His calm defending was very much welcomed as he prevented counter-attacks almost single-handedly.
Normally I’d mark him down points for giving away a penalty but the less said about that one the better.
Phil Jagielka - 6
A better showing from Jags but sadly he was partly at fault for Liverpool’s second. His assist was definitely the high point of the night as his touch and cut-back to Gylfi Sigurdsson was exceptional.
Cuco Martina - 5
He was fine. Average. Lukewarm.
All that.
James McCarthy - 6
Made some good tackles and was much more positive than Schneiderlin in going forward.
Morgan Schneiderlin - 5
Looked composed on the ball but once again didn’t contribute much to the attack. Couldn’t stop any of Liverpool’s counter-attacks as the midfield looked remarkably empty for large parts of the game.
Wayne Rooney - 2
I said most of what I wanted to about Rooney, and we all saw that he had a horrid game. He couldn’t string a pass together to save his life and he was so immensely frustrated by any Liverpool player that gave it a go that he had to be dragged off before he was sent off.
Yannick Bolasie - 6
His trickery was very well contained by Andrew Robertson, who had a great game, as he couldn’t really get anything going to impact the game.
Gylfi Sigurdsson - 7
A very well taken goal capped off another hard-working night for Gylfi. He got into a groove late in the second half but all momentum was shot dead with Van Dijk’s winner.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin - 6
Exactly the same as he has offered for a while now, excellent hold up play combined with immense work rate but no real impact going forward.
Subs -
Ademola Lookman – 7
Impacted the game very well after his introduction as he was the real threat (and the only threat) that we offered as the game went on.