{"id":9543,"date":"2018-04-05T15:00:25","date_gmt":"2018-04-05T14:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.friendsofliverpool.com\/?p=9543"},"modified":"2018-04-05T14:54:08","modified_gmt":"2018-04-05T13:54:08","slug":"clinical-finishing-and-resolute-defending-on-an-evening-where-everyone-impressed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.friendsofliverpool.com\/2018\/04\/clinical-finishing-and-resolute-defending-on-an-evening-where-everyone-impressed\/","title":{"rendered":"Clinical finishing and resolute defending on an evening where everyone impressed"},"content":{"rendered":"
Was unexpectedly rather under-employed \u2013 he dealt well with crosses and stepped up to relieve any pressure when needed.<\/p>\n
Probably the best match he has had in a Liverpool shirt so far \u2013 he frustrated Sane throughout with his pacey recovery runs and constant blocking and shepherding of the ball, he also provided the ball that opened City\u2019s defence for the first time.<\/p>\n
His game was neatly summed up by one piece of play where Sane played a ball back towards Silva and he managed to get to the ball first and release Liverpool into a counter-attack.<\/p>\n
Virgil Van Dijk \u2013 8<\/strong><\/p>\n Another good performance for Liverpool\u2019s new recruit \u2013 he broke up play with perfectly timed interventions and was always a calm presence on the ball.<\/p>\n Proving to be one of Anfield\u2019s most popular figures, he didn\u2019t disappoint again \u2013 he tackled and chased constantly and his quality further up the field is decent too.<\/p>\n Is never one to be flustered, and yet again he delivered in his own serine way \u2013 he made several important challenges and ran his socks off.<\/p>\n Played a crucial role in the centre of midfield, setting the tempo and leading the team \u2013 Liverpool\u2019s dominance in the midfield in the first half was quite extraordinary and a lot of that was down to the Liverpool captain.<\/p>\n Scored a tremendous goal with a strike from outside the penalty area and was a vital cog in Liverpool\u2019s attack in the first half, after the break he worked hard in a more defensive position before going off to a well-earned round of applause.<\/p>\n Scored\u2026again but his performance was so much more than that \u2013 he ran Laporte ragged and was a constant threat to the City defence in the first half.<\/p>\n Was the first line of Liverpool\u2019s defence constantly pressing and harrying the City defence although his usual creativity was somewhat lacking.<\/p>\n Produced a very impressive performance \u2013 scored Liverpool\u2019s third to give the home side a decent grip on the tie and his energy and determination were infectious.<\/p>\n Could hardly be blamed for the three goals he conceded, and apart from the goals he didn\u2019t have much else to do except look on in a state of shock.<\/p>\n Was completely caught out as Mane got on the wrong side of him to score Liverpool\u2019s third goal and his frustration began to tell as the game wore on.<\/p>\n Was forced into mistakes by Firmino\u2019s pressing and it was a rare big evening where the City captain sunk into his shell rather than rally his team.<\/p>\n Struggled throughout the first half to get to grips with Liverpool\u2019s pacey front three \u2013 he looked out of his comfort zone and out of his depth.<\/p>\n Was left in a state of shock when Salah twisted and turned around him but in the second half the pressure on him did relent and he was able to have a more comfortable period.<\/p>\n Produced one decent ball in the second half that almost led to a City opening but on the whole he was dominated and over-powered by Milner and Henderson.<\/p>\n Was a surprising starter instead of Sterling and he didn\u2019t really produce much to warrant his start, therefore there was no wonder he was substituted in the second half.<\/p>\n Kevin De Bruyne \u2013 6<\/strong><\/p>\n The usual dangerous yet silky player of this City side simply could not get into the game \u2013 he couldn\u2019t find his way into the areas from which he usually inflicts damage and that was mainly down to the teamwork and resilience of the Liverpool defence.<\/p>\n Looked like City\u2019s only real danger-man \u2013 his influence on the game grew as City constantly chose to attack down the left side but his final ball or shot was often lacking the quality that we have been accustomed to seeing from him.<\/p>\n During City\u2019s early bout of possession it appeared that he was very much up for the occasion but thirty minutes \u2013 and three goals \u2013 later, it looked like he wanted to be anywhere else except Anfield.<\/p>\n Offered very little upfront \u2013 his evening could be simply summed up as; he had one goal disallowed for offside, he hit one overhead kick wide of the post and then he was booked when his inner frustrations gave in.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Liverpool Loris Karius \u2013 7 Was unexpectedly rather under-employed \u2013 he dealt well with crosses and stepped up to relieve any pressure when needed. Trent Alexander-Arnold \u2013 8 Probably the best match he has had in a Liverpool shirt so far \u2013 he frustrated Sane throughout with his pacey recovery runs and constant blocking and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":6093,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1819],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nAndrew Robertson \u2013 8<\/strong><\/h3>\n
James Milner \u2013 8<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Jordan Henderson \u2013 8<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain \u2013\u00a08<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Mohamed Salah \u2013 8<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Roberto Firmino \u2013 7<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Sadio Mane \u2013 8<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Manchester City<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Ederson<\/strong> \u2013 6<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Kyle Walker \u2013 5<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Vincent Kompany \u2013 6<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Nicolas Otamendi \u2013 5<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Aymeric Laporte \u2013 5<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Fernandinho \u2013 5<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Ilkay Gundogan \u2013 5<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Leroy Sane \u2013 6<\/strong><\/h3>\n
David Silva \u2013 5<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Gabriel Jesus \u2013 5<\/strong><\/h3>\n