Liverpool’s penultimate pre-season game saw the Reds record an impressive victory over Spanish champions Barcelona at Wembley Stadium.
Here’s some player ratings for the victorious Redmen, who will look to repeat the feat next weekend…
Starters
Simon Mignolet – 8/10
Certainly Mignolet’s best performance in a long time. Made two terrific saves to deny a Barcelona equaliser in the first half, including one from a close range Luis Suarez strike. Distribution was improved, and was largely untested in the second half.
Nathaniel Clyne – 9/10
Tireless performance from Clyne, supporting the attack superbly down the right flank from minute one. Has such a strong understanding with Mane, and overall he seems to have become a bit more adventurous. Very strong defensively also, as ever.
Dejan Lovren – 10/10 (MOTM)
Once again, an absolute beast at centre half. Barca couldn’t get near him. Marshalled Messi well and kept Suarez relatively quiet. Decision making was pretty much spot on, and looked excellent on the ball. Went off late on with an injury, which is an absolute disaster if it rules him out of Arsenal, because he was magnificent today.
Ragnar Klavan – 10/10
I hardly ever give one ten out of ten, never mind two! Yet another commanding performance from the new signing, who suits the left side of central defence perfectly. Has the perfect mix of ‘no none sense’ defending and on the ball ability. May well have been brought in as a backup, but it’s hard to see how the Estonian doesn’t start next week.
James Milner – 8/10
Source: liverpoolfc.com
Made some great moves forward but was also very strong in a defensive sense, apart from being caught out out position slightly for Suarez’s first half chance. Some brilliant follow up defending, which was needed giving how much we were playing on the counter attack in the first half.
Emre Can – 8/10
Quickly becoming one of the most important players in the squad. Showed so much tenacity going forward, tempered with a pleasantly surprising amount of work done in front of the back four. Made some excellent challenges, and because of Barcelona’s shape was able to get forward more often than usual. His range of vertical passing today was very classy.
Georginio Wijnaldum – 7/10
Wijnaldum starting today makes me wonder if he’s likely to start next week. Like Can, he is not a CDM, but a box-to-box midfielder. Started well, winning the ball back in good areas and kicking off counter attacks. Faded after a while but still looks ready to make a positive impact in the centre of the park.
Adam Lallana – 9/10
Absolutely terrific performance from Lallana today. Was involved in everything good Liverpool did, and creatively had a hand in the first goal, linking nicely with Firmino and Mane. With such competition in the attacking midfield places it’s hard to see Lallana starting games, but his display today will have done him no harm.
Roberto Firmino – 7/10
Jurgen Klopp named Firmino as the man of pre season after the game, and he will end it as the joint top scorer with Marko Grujic. I still don’t consider him a specialist false nine, I think he becomes isolated in that position, but that wasn’t the case today. Linked well with the attacking players and had a huge hand in Mane’s goal. Should’ve scored in the second half.
Philippe Coutinho – 7/10
The archetypal Coutinho performance today. Outstanding build up play in every department, but wayward with the final execution. So many times he worked tremendously to get himself into good areas, before wasting the pass, and then there was of course the chance he spurned after creating it so well. Still, good to see him involved in the game as prominently as he was.
Sadio Mane – 9/10
Source: liverpoolfc.com
Was about time that Mane got a goal, and today will have done him the world of good. Finished will aplomb after a sublime first touch to fashion the opportunity. The Senegal winger’s all round performance today will leave the fans buzzing, his pace is seemingly untouchable at times, and his movement and delivery are improving all the time.
Substitutes
Alberto Moreno – 7/10
A fine performance from Moreno today. Didn’t have much to do defensively, but when he did he did it comfortably. Seems to have added the element of control to his game. Was limited in an attacking sense, but I’m willing to sacrifice that if it means a better rounded Alberto Moreno.
Kevin Stewart – 8/10
One of the unsung heroes of today’s result. Came on the pitch and did a superb job, started of course with that delightful ball for Origi’s goal, and it continued with a mature and composed display at centre midfield. Won the ball back in good areas, and personified Klopp’s pressing game.
Jordan Henderson – 8/10
The captain returned to domestic action with a very strong second half display. Was involved in the second goal, at first thinking he’d scored it. Was able to show off his range of passing, and the good defensive work from Stewart allowed Henderson to move further forward and influence the game in the final third.
Divock Origi – 8/10
Daniel Sturridge might be one of the best strikers in the world, but good luck to him kicking Divock Origi out of the team. He is powerful, pacy and at the minute, prolific. As soon as Origi had collected Stewart’s perfectly weighted pass, you just knew what was happening – he was never going to miss. Continued to be involved in the game during the second half as he staked his claim for the lone striker role.
Lazar Markovic – 8/10
Markovic’s work rate was admirable today, he got up and down the right hand side and linked up with Clyne on a number of occasions. Sadly Barcelona had all the ball in the second half so his opportunities were limited, but what a terrific chipped ball to Marko Grujic for the fourth goal. He is starting to get himself into positions to create chances more often than previously, which is good.
Marko Grujic – 8/10
That header. Oh wow. It’s hard to do justice to how good that was, but for a start just look at the curve and dip he puts on it. The leap itself is impressive as is the connection. Grujic had a pretty quiet game but the header alone earns him his score of 8.
Danny Ings – 6/10
A very quiet cameo for Danny Ings today. Largely down to Barcelona’s control of possession in the second half, he wasn’t able to get into the game much, though did work hard and offered an outlet for when we needed to clear.
Daniel Daykin
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