Liverpool failed to win at Anfield once again this season as they closed out a miserable campaign with a draw against Brentford.
On a day when the Reds looked back, and to the wonderful careers of Andy Robertson and Mohamed Salah, the future continued to look decidedly bleak.
A goal for Curtis Jones was cancelled out by a Kevin Schade header, as Liverpool signed off for the year. Champions League football might have been secured, but the question marks will remain over Arne Slot into the new campaign. Here’s how we rated the players on a slightly strange day at Anfield.
Does that just about the sum the season up?
A limp performance and another draw at Anfield. Thoughts?
Defence
Alisson Becker: 6 – Huge save to deny Kevin Schade when it looked certain he’d score. Resplendent in the new kit in what hopefully will not be his final Liverpool appearance. Could have perhaps done better for the Schade equaliser.
Curtis Jones: 4 – Wasn’t overly concerned at right-back, and offered little until he bundled home Salah’s wonderful outside-of-the-boot cross. Gets a point knocked off for a strange lack of celebration.
Ibrahima Konate: 4 – Dealt with Igor Thiago well with a couple of early headers won. Struggled a little as the game wore on, becoming a little ragged in the face of Brentford pressure.
Virgil van Dijk: 4 – A quiet day for the captain who handled Thiago well alongside Konate, but was not as alive to the Schade goal as he might have been. Annoyed Anfield by failing to spot and play in Milos Kerkez late on.
READ MORE: Liverpool fans are all saying the same thing about Caoimhin Kelleher vs Brentford
Andy Robertson: 5 – Nothing much of note for Robertson as he waved Anfield farewell, but a decent solid performance nonetheless.
Midfield
Alexis Mac Allister: 4 – As ever, some good and some bad from Mac Allister. He is still leaving far too many gaps in the midfield.
Ryan Gravenberch: 6 – A positive performance from Gravenberch, who almost broke the deadlock with a curling effort in the first-half. There was more evidence of his line-breaking carries and it was nice to see him biting into some tackles as well.
Dominik Szoboszlai: 5 – One lovely piece of skill set him up for a chance which he flashed past Caoimhin Kelleher’s post with his left foot, before he then slid Mohamed Salah in with a inch-perfect pass. Seemed a bit too keen to set up Salah on other occasions where better options were available.
Attack
Mohamed Salah: 6 – Started like a man on a mission, looking a yard sharper than much of the season. Struck the post with a beautiful free-kick which had Kelleher stranded. A little hit and miss from then on. Much like the rest of his season, the effort was there, but the execution, largely, simply was not. Did claim a final assist for Liverpool with a trademark ball across the box which Jones could not miss from.
Why did Curtis Jones not celebrate his goal against Brentford?
Is this confirmation that he's leaving in the summer? Very strange 🤔
Cody Gakpo: 3 – More involved through the middle, with one excellent through ball for Szoboszlai a highlight. His performance then descended into disappointment, and he really should have scored with a free header just before halftime.
Rio Ngumoha: 5 – Started quietly, marshalled by the excellent Michael Kayode, but slowly grew into the game, flashing a fantastic effort just wide with Kelleher beaten. Couldn’t seem to get into the match at all in the second-half before being replaced.
Substitutes
Jeremie Frimpong: 3 – Continually makes terrible decisions on the ball, including setting Brentford underway for a counterattack several minutes after coming on for Salah. Needs to be so much better next season.
Florian Wirtz: 4 – Initially looked like arguably Liverpool’s best player after coming on with 20 minutes to go. Lively, creative and held onto the ball better than any of his teammates. Loses a point for a really poor piece of play when found by Frimpong on a late breakaway. Frustrating. Loses another for missing one-on-one with Kelleher.
Trey Nyoni: 5 – Looked comfortable in possession and took responsibility whenever needed.
Milos Kerkez: 4 – No impact.
Joe Gomez: 4 – Little impact on what could be his final Liverpool appearance.
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