Liverpool put in an unbelievably poor display against an injury-hit Tottenham to lose the first-leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final on Wednesday.
The Reds weren’t at it right from the start in North London and were deservedly beaten. Here’s how we rated the players on the night.
Defence
Alisson Becker: 5 – It was a slight surprise to see Alisson line up for what is usually Caoimhin Kelleher’s competition, but the Brazilian is clearly in need of game time at the moment. Did well with an early save from Radu Dragusin but was suspect with the ball all evening. Fortunate to get away with not one but two lapses in concentration when faced with Lucas Bergvall. Needs to improve.
Conor Bradley: 5 – Came in for the under-par Trent Alexander-Arnold but also looked rusty throughout. Heavy in the touch on more than one occasion, Bradley could never quite get the better of Djed Spence. Taken off on 60.
Jarell Quansah: 5 – Of all of the Liverpool defence, it was Quansah who started the worst. Far too loose on the ball and two forays up-field ended up with Tottenham counter attacks. Almost mercifully came off with an early knock.
Virgil van Dijk: 7 – Clearly the best of Liverpool’s defenders as he bailed out his teammates more than once early one. Made one crucial block from Brennan Johnson and cut out a dangerous ball in from Dejan Kulusevski during another counter.
Kostas Tsimikas: 6 – Made the worst of the early errors after almost inadvertently playing Spurs in and was another who looked rusty. Tsimikas improved as the game went on, though, and was a good outlet overlapping for Cody Gakpo.
Midfield
Ryan Gravenberch: 6 – Uncharacteristically untidy during the first-half and couldn’t quite get a grip on the game. Wasn’t all bad and still won his fair share of balls, but this was not his best display.
Alexis Mac Allister: 6 – Like Gravenberch, Mac Allister was guilty of some loose passing especially during the early moments, but he always looked like being the Liverpool player who may pick the lock.
Curtis Jones: 6 – Like his teammates, Jones was a little off the boil on Wednesday but this was at least better than what he served up against United.
Attack
Mohamed Salah: 6 – Had Liverpool’s best effort of the first-half as he flashed a shot past the post, but was otherwise a little anonymous. Worked hard to create something, though, and played one beautiful through ball into Darwin Nunez which Antonin Kinsky did well to thwart.
Diogo Jota: 5 – A funny performance from Jota who had some bright moments of bundling through challenges but was very wasteful with the ball. One overhit pass with Gakpo in space saw Arne Slot visibly frustrated on the touchline.
Cody Gakpo: 5 – Gakpo has been in brilliant form of late but he couldn’t find that magic at Spurs. Too predictable when cutting inside onto his right foot and chose to shoot too often with his teammates better placed.
Substitutes
Wataru Endo: 7 – Endo was forced on out of position after Quansah’s injury early on. Did extremely well slotting in next to Van Dijk, with one big aerial win against Dominic Solanke a particular highlight.
Luis Diaz: 6 – Should have done better when presented with the ball on his right foot inside the box, but was brighter than Gakpo.
Darwin Nunez: 6 – Another who injected something different from the bench, Nunez looked sharper than he has recently. Couldn’t have done much more when played in by Salah and was a constant threat to the Spurs defence. Forced another save from Kinsky late on.
Trent Alexander-Arnold: 7 Man of the Match– After a terribly difficult outing against United, Trent came off the bench to show his class on Wednesday. Provided some quality on the ball and almost scored with one outrageously good attempt which was cleared off the line.
Ibrahima Konate: 1 – On the pitch for a matter of minutes and culpable for the winning goal. Bullied off it far too easily by Dominic Solanke.
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