After an early delay which saw Martin Skrtel stretchered off after what initially looked to be a serious head injury (he’s now fine), this set the tone for a disjointed, somewhat lethargic Liverpool performance which never really got going, finally resulting in a frustrating goalless draw as Blackburn refused to be broken down (albeit with the help of some dubious refereeing decisions), forcing a replay to take place next month. Here’s how our players performed.
Simon Mignolet – 8/10
Mignolet was our only real standout performer on the day, which isn’t saying much given the quality of Liverpool’s display. The Belgian was largely a spectator as Liverpool dominated possession, but he made one superb and crucial save to tip a powerful header, destined for the top corner, over the bar. It was Blackburn’s most dangerous moment, and without Mignolet’s intervention Liverpool could have been set for a cup upset.
Glen Johnson – 6/10
It’s not a particularly enthralling sight to see Johnson’s name on the team sheet these days, especially when it’s at centre back. To be fair to him, he defended well whenever he had to, but at the same time he was guilty of some really sloppy, poor quality passing which a player of his international pedigree and experience should be disappointed with.
Martin Skrtel – N/A
Skrtel’s game lasted just 2 minutes before a clash with the imposing Rudy Gestede left him to fall awkwardly, clattering his head against the turf and momentarily losing consciousness before the medics decided he should not continue playing, which visibly unsettled Liverpool’s rhythm, especially early on. The good news is it’s nothing serious- he should be back against Swansea, and we’ll need him fit for sure.
Dejan Lovren – 6/10
Similarly to Johnson, the defensive side of Lovren’s game was fine. He cut out danger several times with some solid headers and well timed challenges, but as has been the story in recent weeks, his passing was a mixed-bag. There were a couple of accurate, raking, long passes coupled by some heavy touches and loose, unconvincing passes in dangerous areas of the pitch. He’s nowhere near Sakho’s level in this position, even if he is gradually improving.
Lazar Markovic – 4/10
Markovic has been off the pace in recent weeks and continued this below-par run of form. Although he’s clearly not a natural wing back, he looks more like the timid, indecisive player we saw at the start of the season. Throughout the first half he picked up the ball out wide in decent positions but always looked afraid to take on his man, and instead passed backwards repeatedly, showing a lack of confidence. He’s got genuine ability, but an inconsistent first season in English football is to be expected for the 20 year old.
Emre Can – 5/10
Despite midfield being Can’s long term position according to the player himself and Rodgers, Can disappointed in this role. His energy and physicality were put to good use but his final ball was misplaced too often and he gave possession away needlessly. Perhaps at this stage he’s better deployed at right centre back in the current system, and possibly needs some time to develop in English football before playing the more demanding midfield role regularly.
Jordan Henderson – 6/10
Henderson passed well for the most part and did his best to keep the ball moving through the midfield. However, the centre of the pitch was tightly packed by Blackburn’s tactically astute performance, and Henderson struggled to exert his usual dominance, as his ability to affect the game further forward was restricted and he was seen dropping very deep to receive the ball from the defence where he cannot cause problems for the opposition.
Raheem Sterling – 6/10
I think this performance showed why using Sterling as a wingback is not a long term option. He showed some brilliant moments of skill to get in behind the Blackburn defence on a few occasions but without creating any clear cut chances. His attacking ability is wasted in this role, and especially playing from the left he cut inside on his stronger right foot frequently, where he was crowded out and didn’t maintain the width that Moreno offers in this position.
Adam Lallana – 5/10
Lallana’s performance typified Liverpool on the day. He started off in attacking midfield, before moving to right wing back in the second half, where he saw a lot more of the ball after struggling to get into the game in the first period. He took too many touches and delayed the final ball too often, despite having the beating of his man. His slow decision making and tendency to over complicate on this occasion were symbolic of Liverpool’s collective lack of urgency. He was unlucky not to win a first half penalty as his foot was clipped when he was about to shoot from a promising position.
Philippe Coutinho – 5/10
It was an immensely frustrating game for Coutinho who simply could not find any space in between the lines of midfield and defence, as Blackburn ensured he was given no time on the ball. As a result, Coutinho’s influence was minimal other than one fantastic solo dribble in the second half, beating 3 men in the box before wastefully attempting to beat the keeper at the near post instead of squaring for an easier option in the middle.
Daniel Sturridge – 5/10
Source: liverpoolfc.com
Along with the rest of Liverpool’s attack, Sturridge was largely nullified by Blackburn’s robust style of defending. He had one powerful strike saved in the first half and was unlucky not to win a blatant penalty as he was hauled down when through on goal in the second half.
Substitutes
Kolo Toure – 6/10
Toure played virtually the whole match after replacing the injured Skrtel just 2 minutes in. He didn’t have a whole lot to do, but was mostly assured and dependable, if a little ponderous and uninventive with his forward passing out from the back.
Mario Balotelli – 5/10
Despite the ludicrous comments of Mark Lawrenson who inexplicably blamed Balotelli during this disappointing game, I thought he made a decent impact coming off the bench for Markovic with 30 minutes to go. He showed a nice piece of skill to turn his man before bursting past with pace, only to be brought down to win a free kick in a good position. He was also held in the box which was yet another instance of Liverpool harshly being denied a penalty, but he was guilty of wastefully blasting the ball over the bar from long range as he often does, showing general frustration at his team’s inability to break through the stubborn Blackburn defence.
Red Regista
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