An absolute shambles. I didn’t think it could get much worse than the woeful 0-0 draw away to West Brom, but we topped it here, falling to a bitterly disappointing 1-0 defeat to a side battling relegation, leaving Liverpool fans in despair and firmly putting an end to any faint hopes of a top four challenge. Here’s how I rated our players on the night.
Simon Mignolet – 7/10
Mignolet is one of the rare sources of consistency in this current Liverpool side during this awful run of form. He put in another dependable performance, pulling off numerous smart saves to keep Liverpool in the game. Unfortunately for Mignolet, our forwards weren’t able to put the ball in the net at the other end, and he couldn’t be blamed for the goal he conceded.
Emre Can – 4/10
Source: liverpoolfc.com
I do feel sympathy for Can at the moment. I have no idea why Rodgers persists with this bizarre choice of playing him at right back when Javi Manquillo seems to have been totally cast aside despite a promising start to his loan spell earlier this season. It’s clear that Can is not comfortable in this position, and although he is good on the ball, he was repeatedly beaten down the flank by poor quality opponents.
Martin Skrtel – 5/10
Skrtel didn’t do a whole lot wrong but he certainly looks less dominant when part of a back four than he does in the middle of a back three. He was part of the back line whose failed offside trap lead to the Hull goal, although he made one vital intervention to break up a dangerous counter attack in the second half.
Dejan Lovren – 5/10
Lovren is beginning to look more confident in the Liverpool shirt over the past few weeks, despite the poor form of the side as a whole. He’s making fewer mistakes, and this was another decent performance by the Croatian but he had to be withdrawn due to an injury in the second half.
Glen Johnson – 4/10
Filling in at left back in Moreno’s absence, Johnson appeared laboured and lethargic as he does far too often these days. Although his defending was fine, he offered very little going forwards. Time to move on in the summer.
Joe Allen – 7/10
Easily Liverpool’s man of the match, Allen was one of the only Liverpool players who looked like they gave 100% commitment. He was hard working, accurate with the ball and won possession back well on numerous occasions to break up play, displaying great strength despite his small frame.
Jordan Henderson – 6/10
Henderson endured a frustrating evening. He didn’t play badly at all, and was the closest of any Liverpool player to finding the back of the net with several decent efforts on target including a well executed scissor kick in the second half, whilst putting in an energetic shift as he always does.
Philippe Coutinho – 6/10
As is the case virtually every game at the moment, Coutinho is by far the most likely Liverpool player to make the difference. He wasn’t able to do so here, but his quality was evident once more as his close control, slick dribbling and eye for a pass were on show, but a lack of movement and physical presence in the box meant he struggled to find the killer pass.
Jordon Ibe – 5/10
On an immensely frustrating evening, Ibe played with a sense of purpose and urgency which the rest of the team generally lacked, running directly at the opposition with pace on several occasions. However, his decision making was erratic and after finding himself in some promising positions the final ball was too often inaccurate.
Raheem Sterling – 4/10
Without trying to be overly harsh, Sterling simply is not playing anything like a player who warrants a £150,000 per week contract at the moment. In flashes he showed his pace and beat his man, but his final product was ineffectual and he needlessly lost possession far too many times.
Mario Balotelli – 3/10
Source: liverpoolfc.com
I want him to succeed but it just isn’t happening. Starting a second consecutive game, Balotelli was caught offside far too regularly as he often does, whilst he played Dawson onside in the build up to Hull’s winning goal. In terms of all round play, he spent too much time dropping deep rather than picking up positions in the penalty box, and offered little in terms of goal threat, bar one audacious back heel attempt straight at the Hull keeper.
Substitutes
Rickie Lambert – 5/10
Lambert replaced Balotelli for the last 25 minutes but was unable to make any impact and was rarely involved in the play.
Adam Lallana – 5/10
Replacing Ibe for the last 25 minutes, Lallana provided energy and industry, but ultimately couldn’t make a telling difference.
Lazar Markovic – 5/10
Bizarrely being deployed at right back after Lovren came off injured, Markovic played the final 15 minutes and almost drew a penalty with a positive run into the penalty area but this clearly isn’t the right position for him. It’s been a very tough first season for him.
Red Regista
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