Liverpool 1 – 1 MAN CITY – PLAYER RATINGS
28 Nov
Hart - Having not contributed a great deal so far this season, he showed his true quality yesterday. Kept us in the game with a string of fantastic stops from Adam, Downing, Carroll and Suarez. Handling good, distribution fine - 9
Richards - Wasn’t able to have such an influence further up the field as we’ve come to expect but was solid enough. Strong in the air and coped with Downing fairly well - 6
Kompany - After his early booking, had to be careful, especially with the moaning, diving Suarez doing everything possible to con the referee. Grew into the game and was an important figure in the last fifteen minutes - 6.5
Lescott - I don’t blame him for the goal, but this wasn’t one of his most assured afternoons. Looked nervy in possession and was lucky on a couple of occasions with clearances that bounced off a Liverpool player and away from danger. Will get a rest against Arsenal - 6
Clichy - A promising showing from Clichy, who was defensively aware to Liverpool’s impressive movement around the box. A few teasing crosses as well and more examples of his electric pace further highlights what an odd decision it was to play Kolarov against Napoli - 7
Barry - Very prominent in the first half as he won his tackles, shielded our defence and kept possession. Struggled to get a foothold, however, in the second period as Liverpool threatened - 6.5
Milner - Another all-action display in a number of positions. Covered huge amounts of ground and always looked up for the challenge. Tidy in possession without ever producing moments of real quality but we needed players to stand up to the challenge yesterday and Milner was one of them - 7
Y. Touré - I’ve praised him recently for some superb performances, but this was a return to the disinterested and lethargic Yaya who contributed absolutely nothing. His passing was virtually all sideways or back and he lacked any sort of drive or bite from midfield. Loped around as if without a care in the world. Looks permanently exhausted and will get a much-needed break against Arsenal - 4.5
Nasri - A few neat touches in possession but there’s still the sense that we need to see more from him. A player of his quality should be dominating games but he’s often on the periphery - 6
Silva - As per usual, one of our brightest sparks and always involved in our attacks. Was forced to drop deep to receive the ball on a number of occasions but displayed a great work-ethic. Could do with some work on his shooting - 7
Aguero - Bright and busy for much of the game, but Agger and Skrtel handled him well. A couple of half-chances which he couldn’t take were the best of his efforts - 6.5
Subs
Balotelli - Typical Mario! Looked determined to make an impression when he came on though I feel he was picked on because of his reputation. His first yellow card was understandable but the second one was very lame. There was no intent, no elbow aimed at Skrtel, it was just a touch clumsy. If that was Milner committing the foul, I doubt it would have been a second yellow card. Would have probably sat out the Arsenal Carling Cup game anyway - 4
Džeko - One powerful run down the left and superb pass to Silva nearly secured us the winner - No time to mark
K. Touré - Came on for the last few minutes after Balotelli’s sending-off - No time to mark
Yaya has basically played every single game. Mancini should rest him before he is totally burned out. I am surprised the Nigel did not start in place of Yaya.
One that most impressed me was Clichy. He has been one of our consistent player whenever called up. I prefer him over Kolarov hands-down
Siamick backing the clearly indefensible Yaya up again after a dreadful performance. He was terrible, not worthy of 4.5 at all. I think Balotelli did more than him. Read this second, and see you use the words “touch clumsy” which is almost identical to Atkinson’s reasoning for a second yellow card.
Also, harsh on Nasri, things went downhill (i.e lack of midfield) when he went off. Sometimes I wonder if you wear blinkers like Siamack.
I did not back him up. If you read my comment posted in the tread “Liverpool VS Manchester city Preview City’s probable team”, I stated that Yaya should be put on the bench for this game, as I , along side many others, thought he would be terrible and he was. Yaya is a great player, however; the best comes out when a player’s weakness and strength are leveraged properly. He is not a player that can play two games per week. He has been a fixed player for majority of games [basically playing every 3 days for sometime] and he needs rest much like others.
Suarez was a digace, just think how good we could be if we had anyone else in there instead of Toure
There’s always plenty of folk ready and willing to slag off Yaya!
The guy has played far too many games in too short a space and he’s lost his edge. I suppose the reasoning is that we’ll lose him anyway for January so make hay whilst the sun shines, but for sure we’ll miss him when he’s not available.
Hopefully Owen Hargreaves will be fit and stay fit by then, because he’s the only player we have on the books able to play the sort of role that Yaya fills. Nigel De Jong, much as i love the guy, is a very different type of player and neither Milner nor Barry have that sort of presence and impact.
Incidentally, Barry was worth at least as much as you gave James Milner, probably a tad more IMO.
He’s another unsung hero who has a queue of nob heads queuing up to diss him.
Totally agree, as I usually do, but not sure how you can say Yaya deserves a break, a huge kick up the rear end would be more appropriate for this idle shiftless overpaid player. With his talent and physique he should dominate every game from start to finish. Instead he ambles around as though he couldn’t care less, rarely winning headers or tackles. He’s shameful at times.
I agree with everything you’ve said, though I stated it was a much-needed break, rather than deserved.
I’m sorry, you are quite right, you didn’t say deserved. I read that into it by mistake.
Agree with marking on the whole and i too would have picked Nigel. However i would like to have seen Dzecko start as we get the best out of him when Clichy and Richards play as both put in early ball from wing. Sergio plays well of the big man also.
Pity Reina not sent off as should have been and surprised at lack of comment on this.