Liverpool player ratings vs Man City see Joe Gomez struggle at the Etihad. The Reds lost 3-2 in the EFL Cup.
Liverpool fell to a 3-2 defeat against Manchester City on Thursday evening. It was a great game of football but one where the Reds never truly found their best form.
City got the opener after a fantastic cross by Kevin De Bruyne that was met by Erling Haaland. Liverpool then responded through Fabio Carvalho to level things at half-time.
The second half started off rapidly – Riyad Mahrez put City back in front before great work by Darwin Nunez allowed Mohamed Salah to find an equaliser. Unfortunately, Nathan Aké was able to get on another De Bruyne delivery for 3-2.
So how did the players do? Here are our player ratings for the game – one that was quite hard to judge.
Liverpool player ratings vs Man City
Caoimhín Kelleher – 6
Conceded three times, so it’s hard to score him too highly. Didn’t exactly do a lot wrong, though, and still made several solid saves to keep City out.
James Milner – 5
Struggled defensively before he went off, with City regularly finding space behind him. Did offer more going forward, though – so not a disaster. The injury, however, was exactly that.
Joe Gomez – 4
Was far, far too slow on City’s opener. He just didn’t take charge of it and Haaland pounced. Didn’t really look comfortable at any point and not for the first time against these opponents.
Andy Robertson – 6
Didn’t offer too much going forward but didn’t do much wrong, either. Just an average game – a theme in this one.
Stefan Bajcetic – 5
Went off at half-time and understandably so. The teenager is brilliant but this was just too fast and too intense for him at this stage. Bajcetic didn’t embarrass himself, though, and he’ll be back.
Harvey Elliott – 6
Had some really bright moments where we saw his quality. Elliott just couldn’t make enough of them truly count.
Thiago – 6
As above, really. Some great cameos – one touch in the first half was magic – but couldn’t quite control the midfield as he usually does.
Mohamed Salah – 6
An incredibly quiet game other than the goal. Right place in the right time for that one but we’d have liked to see Salah more involved as City struggle against him.
Darwin Nunez – 6
The assist for the second was class. The finishes in front of goal were not. Nunez should have had a 9 here as he had the chances to score several. Just one of those days in the end.
Fabio Carvalho – 6
Again, we’d have liked to see him more involved but the youngster still found the net. Like Salah, he got into the right position to punish City. Quiet otherwise, though.
Subs
Phillips – 6
One magnificent tackle on Erling Haaland was a highlight. Some decent interceptions, too, in a nice cameo.
Fabinho – 6
We could really say ‘N/A’ here for everyone else on the list. Fabinho was fine when he came on but nothing spectacular.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – 5
Again, just didn’t affect the game in any meaningful way.
Jordan Henderson – 5
As above.
Naby Keita – 5
And again.
Receive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox
