Liverpool will have to beat Brentford on the final day of the Premier League season to secure a Champions League spot for next season after being easily beaten by Aston Villa.
The Reds were absolutely woeful from the first minute to the last at Villa Park, and got exactly what they deserved with a 4-2 defeat.
In reality, this Liverpool team do not deserve to finish in the Premier League top five, and having delivered one of their worst displays of the season, they may not do. Here’s how we rated the players on an absolutely dismal evening in the West Midlands.
Who was Liverpool’s worst player on a terrible night at Villa Park?
The challenge here is to pick only one!
Defence
Giorgi Mamardashvili: 2 – Looked shaky early on as Villa targeted the channels, with one poor rush out and flimsy clearance almost leading to the opening goal. Kicking continues to be atrocious, and there were question marks over whether he could’ve done better on the Morgan Rogers goal. Good save to deny Ollie Watkins making it 3-1, but really should have done better when the same player did beat him.
Joe Gomez: 4 – A few wobbly moments, but generally gave Liverpool more solidity at right-back. That wasn’t difficult after the horror show against Chelsea, though.
Ibrahima Konate: 5 – Dealt with the threat of Watkins far better than Virgil van Dijk, but that wasn’t saying much.
Virgil van Dijk: 4 – Unusually flustered early on, delivering woefully misdirected passes for Konate, Alexis Mac Allister and Mamardashvili, who is still left-footed, despite the captain’s best efforts. Amazingly scored twice, but couldn’t have looked more on the beach if he’d have rocked up shirtless and wearing flip-flops.
Milos Kerkez: 3 – Industrious but no quality at all. Has regressed as the season has progressed.
Midfield
Alexis Mac Allister: 3 – Caught in possession on the edge of his own box early on in a moment which surprised no one. Later made a fool of himself as he tried to get Ezri Konsa sent off.
Ryan Gravenberch: 5 – Brought back a few of his trademark turns and looked generally more comfortable than he has done for most of the season. Taken off with 25 left to play.
Dominik Szoboszlai: 3 – Good delivery for the equalising goal but a horror moment as he slipped to let Rogers in to supply Watkins. Not good enough. And yet, still ended the game with two assists.
Attack
Curtis Jones: 3 – Surprisingly started in what looked like a wide right position, but interchanged with Szoboszlai. Tried a ridiculous backheel on the byline which led to a Villa free-kick in a dangerous position early on, and despite his usual nice touches, did not do enough. Again.
Cody Gakpo: 3 – Offered very little through the middle once again. Missed a really good opportunity after Rio Ngumoha hit the post.
Just dismal. We’re going to miss out on the Champions League aren’t we?
Up there with the worst performances of the season
Rio Ngumoha: 6 – Liverpool’s biggest threat, battling hard against Matty Cash, and if the Reds were going to do anything it was coming from him. Hit the post with an excellent effort after cutting inside.
Substitutions
Federico Chiesa: 3 – Played everyone onside as Villa wrapped up the game at 3-1.
Florian Wirtz: 4 – Looked bright and it’s good to have him back, but just nothing to note.
Mohamed Salah: 4 – Like Wirtz, tried his best to make something happen, but couldn’t provide.
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