Liverpool managed to sneak past Leicester City on Friday night, courtesy of a couple of Wout Faes own goals.
The Reds had Leicester’s Belgian defender to thank, as they failed to convince against Brendan Rodgers’ side.
But a win is a win. In Liverpool’s position in the table, they’ll take three points however they can get them. The win takes them within two points of the top four places.
Having fallen behind, the Reds gave themselves plenty to do, but they just about managed it. Here’s how we rated each of Jurgen Klopp’s players tonight.
Defence
Alisson – 6: It says a lot about Alisson’s quality in one-v-one situations that you almost expected him to save Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s first half effort. That’s a little unfair though. Didn’t have an awful lot else do to.
Trent Alexander-Arnold – 8 (Man of the Match): Defended excellently time and again against Harvey Barnes. Much better than we’ve seen at times this season. His whipped ball proved too hot for Faes to draw Liverpool level. Taken off with five to play.
Joel Matip – 5: Showed some nice forays forward as ever, but emptied into the midfield a little too often to leave space in behind. Caught horribly out of position for the goal. Loses a point for an aimless long punt in injury time to put Liverpool under pressure.
Virgil van Dijk – 5: Just like his centre-back partner, caught a little too high up the pitch on occasion. Also guilty of some sloppy passing.
Andy Robertson – 4: A really, really poor showing from the Scotland captain. Horrendously poor on the ball in the first half in particualr. Inexplicably tried to play offside as Dewsbury-Hall galloped in on goal.
Midfield
Jordan Henderson – 4: Couldn’t keep the ball in the first half, undercooking some dreadful passes to teammates. Caught out far too easily for the goal. Lucky to stay on the pitch.
Thiago Alcantara – 7: Comfortably the best of a Liverpool midfield that was overrun in the first half. Passed well and drove the Reds forward as usual.
Harvey Elliott – 5: Simply not up to the standard of playing as regularly as he is at the moment, unfortunately. Sloppy in possession way too many times and incredibly lightweight in the challenge. Should have been hooked long before he was with five minutes left. Need to see more.
Attack
Mohamed Salah – 6: Generally lively but missed a glorious chance to put the game to bed at 2-1.
Darwin Nunez – 7: A standard day at the office for Darwin. At the heart of everything good Liverpool did but just couldn’t find the net. Unlucky with the second Faes own goal as his shot came back off the inside of the post. Missed two good chances second half. It’ll come.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – 6: Did well on occasion but a little too peripheral in the attack. Taken off.
Subs
Naby Keita – 6: Added a bit more steel to the Liverpool midfield, Good to see him getting minutes in the legs.
Kostas Tsimikas – 5: Picked up where Robertson left off, not tracking his runners and looking a little flimsy. One nice surge up the pitch led to a corner.
Joe Gomez – 6: Came on to sure up the backline. Did his job.
Stefan Bajcetic – 7: Great tackle on the halfway line, looks a really exciting prospect. Nice to see him again
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