Ratings

[anfieldanfield]

5 = Average performance

Reina (7) A couple of important saves and a general command of his penalty area. Impressive.

Arbeloa (6) Always a willing runner and did OK defensively.

Carragher (7) Typical Carragher performance. Threw himself in front of everything and covered other people's mistakes.

Skrtel (7) Dealt with Carew well.

Dossena (6) He can clearly cross a ball and if Rafa allows him he should provide a good outlet on that left hand side. But defensively ? I'm not entirely convinced. Could do without picking up silly yellows too.

Lucas (3). No power, pace, tackling ability or vision to speak of. He's a distinctly average footballer and shouldn't be anywhere near Liverpool football club. I don't think I've seen one player lose more 50/50's than this lad does. Is he any better than Danny Guthrie ? And did we really pay 6 million for him ?! Oh dear.

Alonso (6) Got stuck in and generally played well. I'd love to see him in a side with plenty of movement and attacking threat in front of him, because he doesn't really suit Rafa's style.

Mascherano (6) Certainly not his best game, but broke up their attacks well and showed plenty of desire to surge forward. Passing was rusty.

Kuyt (6) Worked hard defensively and covered a lot of ground. Offered nothing going forward. Same old.

Keane (5) Not a winger. Obviously. Played OK when Rafa sent him up top, but still looks short on confidence and I never fancied him to slot home our only clear chance of the match.

N'gog (3) Out of his depth and clearly not ready to play up front largely by himself in a tricky away game like this. Why on earth didn't Babel come on ?



Rafa (3) Got what he came for, a 0-0. Bizarre substitutions, round pegs in square holes and a far too cautious overall approach. We won't challenge for the title playing like this.

[JohnDoe]

Reina 7
Arbeloa 6
Carragher 7
Skrtel 7
Dossena 7
Mascherano 5
Alonso 4
Lucas 3
Keane 6
Kuyt 4
N'Gog 4

[kev776]

agreed 99% Give Dosseba 1 more point and take one of Lucas, otherwise very accurate.

[kev776]

5 = Average performance

Reina (7) A couple of important saves and a general command of his penalty area. Impressive.

Arbeloa (6) Always a willing runner and did OK defensively.

Carragher (7) Typical Carragher performance. Threw himself in front of everything and covered other people's mistakes.

Skrtel (7) Dealt with Carew well.

Dossena (6) He can clearly cross a ball and if Rafa allows him he should provide a good outlet on that left hand side. But defensively ? I'm not entirely convinced. Could do without picking up silly yellows too.

Lucas (3). No power, pace, tackling ability or vision to speak of. He's a distinctly average footballer and shouldn't be anywhere near Liverpool football club. I don't think I've seen one player lose more 50/50's than this lad does. Is he any better than Danny Guthrie ? And did we really pay 6 million for him ?! Oh dear.

Alonso (6) Got stuck in and generally played well. I'd love to see him in a side with plenty of movement and attacking threat in front of him, because he doesn't really suit Rafa's style.

Mascherano (6) Certainly not his best game, but broke up their attacks well and showed plenty of desire to surge forward. Passing was rusty.

Kuyt (6) Worked hard defensively and covered a lot of ground. Offered nothing going forward. Same old.

Keane (5) Not a winger. Obviously. Played OK when Rafa sent him up top, but still looks short on confidence and I never fancied him to slot home our only clear chance of the match.

N'gog (3) Out of his depth and clearly not ready to play up front largely by himself in a tricky away game like this. Why on earth didn't Babel come on ?



Rafa (3) Got what he came for, a 0-0. Bizarre substitutions, round pegs in square holes and a far too cautious overall approach. We won't challenge for the title playing like this.

agreed 99% Give Dossena 1 more point and take one of Lucas, otherwise very accurate.

[DannyMan2006]

I would give them all ten out of ten for their defensive performances. But the I would give most three out of ten for their ability on the ball and forward play.

I agree with your comments about Alonso. You can only pass to what's available and he had no movement in front of him today.

I think it's safe to say that if our wide options remain the same we will not win the league. Huge pressure on Riera to deliver.

[poorscousertommy]

I thought Mascherano was one of our better players tbh. He broke up most of their attacks and was trying to get forward when he could to make up for the negativity that ran through the rest of the team.

[JPK]

I thought Mascherano was one of our better players tbh. He broke up most of their attacks and was trying to get forward when he could to make up for the negativity that ran through the rest of the team.

I love when he accelerates and bursts through the midfield. He was solid today.

[FatTony]

Reina 7 not that he had much to do
Arbeloa 6
Carragher 7
Skrtel 7
Dossena 7
Mascherano 6
Alonso 5
Lucas 5
Keane 5
Kuyt 5
N'Gog 4

Rafa 3

[garymac]

Masch was man of the match for me.....

[Montana]

Masch was man of the match for me.....

Just got back from the game and agree Mascherano was our best player today. Villa fans acknowledged this too.

[vonk]

5 = Average performance

Reina (7) A couple of important saves and a general command of his penalty area. Impressive.

Arbeloa (6) Always a willing runner and did OK defensively.

Carragher (7) Typical Carragher performance. Threw himself in front of everything and covered other people's mistakes.

Skrtel (7) Dealt with Carew well.

Dossena (6) He can clearly cross a ball and if Rafa allows him he should provide a good outlet on that left hand side. But defensively ? I'm not entirely convinced. Could do without picking up silly yellows too.

Lucas (3). No power, pace, tackling ability or vision to speak of. He's a distinctly average footballer and shouldn't be anywhere near Liverpool football club. I don't think I've seen one player lose more 50/50's than this lad does. Is he any better than Danny Guthrie ? And did we really pay 6 million for him ?! Oh dear.

Alonso (6) Got stuck in and generally played well. I'd love to see him in a side with plenty of movement and attacking threat in front of him, because he doesn't really suit Rafa's style.

Mascherano (6) Certainly not his best game, but broke up their attacks well and showed plenty of desire to surge forward. Passing was rusty.

Kuyt (6) Worked hard defensively and covered a lot of ground. Offered nothing going forward. Same old.

Keane (5) Not a winger. Obviously. Played OK when Rafa sent him up top, but still looks short on confidence and I never fancied him to slot home our only clear chance of the match.

N'gog (3) Out of his depth and clearly not ready to play up front largely by himself in a tricky away game like this. Why on earth didn't Babel come on ?



Rafa (3) Got what he came for, a 0-0. Bizarre substitutions, round pegs in square holes and a far too cautious overall approach. We won't challenge for the title playing like this.

Agree with almost all of that, but I thought Mascherano was excellent. Covered everything. Lucas was useless to be honest. He loses the ball too much, doesn't seem interested and adds very little to the attack. No idea why he is rated highly. Maybe he will prove me wrong. Players played within themselves, they seem to be afraid to express themselves of be creative at all. All down to Rafa and his negative approach to football matches. We will not win the league playing like this.

[tufty]

Would only give 2 to Lucas (has anyone actually checked his passport to check his nationality?)

(another) woeful team performance

****e



goodnight

[EST_1892]

Gotta agree about Masher. He often ran the length of the pitch to cover guys out of position. Dossena especially. However, I would much prefer to be offering our MOM on their offensive capabilities.

Not today. Our 1 'shot' on target was from Xabi from our own half again.

[Parr_Zee]

Totally agree with the ratings, we are totally shambolic as an attacking unit, and i'm starting to wonder if things will ever change under Rafa - he is just too defensive minded. He doesnt go out to win games, he goes out to not lose.

The fact that we are creating so little chances is very worrying. In fact, i'd go as far as to say that we play the least attractive football in the Premier League.

[Kenneth]

Just want to add that I also think Lucas is a stinking pile of ****e. The lad has nothing to offer in any position, nevermind on the left or right. Has the creativity of Plessis and the pace of yossi and is about as dangerous as Finnan (when he isn't driving).