Liverpool Squad Rankings: December 2018

A very warm welcome to the fourth instalment of my new monthly series; Liverpool Squad Rankings. At the end of each match, I award players marks out of ten, and then collate their match ratings from the month to produce an average rating for their performances that month. Each month I will rank the players by their monthly average rating, and as the season progresses, be able to track their average rating for the campaign.

December has been one of the best month’s in Liverpool’s modern history. The Reds have won eight games out of eight in the calendar month. We’ve won every game. 23 goals scored, 3 conceded. 5 clean sheets. A win over Everton in the last minute. A first win over United for four years. A 5-1 thrashing of Arsenal. A comeback win against Burnley. Wins to nil against Bournemouth, Wolves and Newcastle. Qualifying for the Champions League last 16. I don’t know about you, but I think this has been the greatest month I’ve ever had in 15 years as a Liverpool fan. Here are the squad rankings for the month just gone…

 

Player of the Month: Mohamed Salah

December Stats		Season Stats
Starts	7	Starts	25
Sub Appearances	1	Sub Appearances	2
Goals	7	Goals	17
Match Ratings this month: 6.5 (EVE) 7 (BUR) 10 (BOU) 9 (NAP) 8 (MNU) 8 (WOL) 7 (NEW) 8 (ARL)
December Average Rating	7.94	Season Average Rating	7.33

 

A phenomenal month from last season’s golden boot winner, who has now got himself back to the top of the goalscoring charts. He opened the month with a struggling performance against Everton and was placed on the bench against Burnley. The Egyptian was introduced in the second half at Turf Moor and had a great impact, crafting a delightful assist for Xherdan Shaqiri’s goal. Salah was at his absolute best on the South Coast against Brighton as he scored his second Liverpool hat trick – with incredible individual quality for the second and third. Salah has been a real clutch player for us when needed and he lived up to this, scoring an excellent goal from a tight angle in the must-win Champions League tie with Napoli. Salah’s work rate was exemplary all night as Liverpool earned their place in the last 16. He wasn’t in the headlines against United but still ran himself into the ground, helping find space and having an involvement in Shaqiri’s second goal. He was back on the goal trail in Wolverhampton as he tapped home Fabinho’s cross, before slotting home penalties against Newcastle and Arsenal to round of a terrific month and an exceptional year for the forward.

 

2) Alisson Becker

December Stats		Season Stats
Starts	8	Starts	26
Sub Appearances	0	Sub Appearances	0
Clean Sheets	5	Clean Sheets	14
Match Ratings this month: 8.5 (EVE) 9 (BUR) 7.5 (BOU) 9 (NAP) 6 (MNU) 7 (WOL) 7 (NEW) 8 (ARL)
December Average Rating	7.75	Season Average Rating	7.29

 

Wow. Have you ever loved a Liverpool keeper as much as this man? Has a Liverpool keeper ever had a month like this? A superb performance in the derby win over Everton, including wonderful saves from Gomes and Walcott was topped off by cleverly rushing to give Trent a better angle to deliver his free kick into the box – which proved to be a decisive one. He was in similar form against Burnley, making a series of good saves before an unbelievable one in the dying stages. From this save, the Brazilian rapidly set up a counter attack which resulted in Liverpool’s third goal. He had a quieter day against Bournemouth but had to be on guard to intelligently deal with a first half chance, before his greatest moment to date came. With Liverpool 1-0 up and heading into the knockout stages of the Champions League with a win, Alisson produced a jaw-dropping save in injury time to deny Milik and send Liverpool into the last 16. Frustratingly, he was slightly at fault for Jesse Lingard’s equaliser in the United game but was much better in the next game, making some very good first half saves at Molineux. He had a very quiet day against Newcastle but almost stole the show with a superb piece of goalkeeping from out of his box at the end. Against Arsenal, he made a stunning save from a Mustafi header and was once again impressive with his distribution as he found Firmino with a long kick, which resulted in Liverpool’s first penalty. A phenomenal month.

 

3) Andy Robertson

December Stats		Season Stats
Starts	7	Starts	24
Sub Appearances	0	Sub Appearances	0
Goals	0	Goals	0
Match Ratings this month: 7 (EVE) 8 (BOU) 8 (NAP) 8.5 (MNU) 7.5 (WOL) 7.5 (NEW) 7 (ARL)
December Average Rating	7.64	Season Average Rating	7.35

 

The most consistent performer you could ever wish to see. Robertson hardly ever puts a foot wrong and continues to make himself a fan favourite. A series of performances that have seen the Scot develop both the defensive and offensive sides of his game, particularly in the Arsenal game, when he showed his range of passing with a fabulous diagonal ball to Salah to set up Mane for the third goal. He was involved in the opener against Newcastle too, with an excellent cross. While the month hasn’t seen a particular stand-out moment for Robertson, he keeps on asserting himself as the best left back in the league and a key player in this team. So hard working.

 

4) Virgil Van Dijk

December Stats		Season Stats
Starts	8	Starts	26
Sub Appearances	0	Sub Appearances	0
Goals	1	Goals	1
Match Ratings this month: 7 (EVE) 8 (BUR) 7 (BOU) 8 (NAP) 7.5 (MNU) 9.5 (WOL) 9 (NEW) 7 (ARL)
December Average Rating	7.63	Season Average Rating	7.6

 

The best defender on the planet. Don’t even attempt to debate this. This month has seen Van Dijk cement his status among the world’s elite with a series of top-class defensive displays. He got a pair of assists in the first two games, a very fortunate one against Everton but a wonderfully controlled volleyed cross to Firmino at Turf Moor. He was instrumental in the clean sheets kept against Bournemouth and Napoli and was similarly impressive against United. There aren’t many words that do justice to his performance at Molineux, with the Dutchman absolutely dominating the game. He snuffed out the pace of Adama Traore with relative ease and grabbed his first league goal in a Liverpool shirt in the second half with a volleyed finish. He produced a performance of similar quality against Newcastle before an easier day at the office in the win over Arsenal. What a player.

 

5) Fabinho

December Stats		Season Stats
Starts	5	Starts	10
Sub Appearances	2	Sub Appearances	6
Goals	1	Goals	1
Match Ratings this month: 8 (EVE) 7 (BOU) N/A (NAP) 9 (MNU) 7 (WOL) 7 (NEW) 7 (ARL)
December Average Rating	7.5	Season Average Rating	7.12

 

After such a slow and gradual start to his Liverpool career, Fabinho is really coming into his own lately. He produced one of his best performances in a red shirt in the derby, dominating the midfield battle, and was also impressive against Bournemouth. His real breakthrough moment came in the win over Manchester United, delivering a gorgeous chipped ball to Sadio Mane, who opened the scoring. The Brazilian’s first assist for the club was one of the cutest you’ll see – and it came in a performance full of heart, vigour and energy as he won everything in the middle of the park. Somewhat surprisingly, his second assist came in the following game against Wolves, a nice one-two on the edge of the box finishing with a superb low cross to Salah. He was on the bench against Newcastle but came on and scored his first Liverpool goal, a glancing header from a corner. His month was rounded off with a difficult start in the Arsenal game, before a marked improvement past the half hour point. His best month for Liverpool so far.

 

=) Divock Origi

December Stats		Season Stats
Starts	1	Starts	1
Sub Appearances	1	Sub Appearances	2
Goals	1	Goals	1
Match Ratings this month: 9 (EVE) 6 (BUR)
December Average Rating	7.5	Season Average Rating	6.67

 

Who’d have thought that Divock Origi would provide the most awesome moment of this season? Coming off the bench and taking advantage of Jordan Pickford’s hideous error to win the derby for us in the 95^th minute. Just a few minutes after he’d missed a sitter! He was rewarded with a start at Burnley and had a quiet game, but huge credit to him for having the presence of mind to set Milner up for a shot rather than having a go himself – a key moment in the turnaround.

 

7) Xherdan Shaqiri

December Stats		Season Stats
Starts	5	Starts	11
Sub Appearances	1	Sub Appearances	8
Goals	4	Goals	6
Match Ratings this month: 6 (EVE) 7 (BUR) 6.5 (BOU) 9.5 (MNU) 8 (NEW) 7.5 (ARL)
December Average Rating	7.42	Season Average Rating	7.26

 

It’s a shame I can’t include emojis in these pieces, because the crying with laughter face is about the only reasonable reaction to Xherdan Shaqiri’s price tag. £12m. *insert crying with laughter face x3*. Shaqiri is quickly becoming integral to this team with the quality of his performances and the impact he is having on the team’s attacking impetus. He was disappointed not to score against Everton with an excellent chance but made up for it by finishing off a stunning counter attack against Burnley with a cool finish. Bournemouth was a game full of Shaqiri through balls before his biggest Liverpool moment to date. Coming off the bench against United with the scores level, the Swiss international scored two goals in seven minutes to earn Liverpool a first league win over United since 2014. His sixth goal for Liverpool came in the win over Newcastle, finishing a great passing move with a composed finish. His month finished with a positive attacking display against Arsenal, with Shaqiri being responsible for lots of our best play. How times have changed since he got relegated with Stoke!

 

8) Jordan Henderson

December Stats		Season Stats
Starts	4	Starts	10
Sub Appearances	3	Sub Appearances	9
Goals	0	Goals	0
Match Ratings this month: 7 (BUR) 6 (BOU) 7 (NAP) N/A (MNU) 8 (WOL) 8 (NEW) 7.5 (ARL)
December Average Rating	7.25	Season Average Rating	6.43

 

Definitely Henderson’s best month in a long while. It seems like Klopp has found a system which suits the captain well. In the new 4-2-3-1, the former Sunderland midfielder is given more freedom to influence the game with less defensive responsibility next to Fabinho or Wijnaldum. After a few cameos from the bench, Henderson was thrust into the starting eleven against Wolves and was excellent, dominating the midfield and having an impact on the offensive play of the team. This continued in the Newcastle clash, with the skipper rediscovering the long diagonal passes that were a trademark of his game in 2014/15. His cameo from the bench against Arsenal was similarly impressive, featuring a hilarious shot which may well be yet to land.

 

9) Roberto Firmino

December Stats		Season Stats
Starts	7	Starts	22
Sub Appearances	1	Sub Appearances	5
Goals	4	Goals	9
Match Ratings this month: 4 (EVE) 7.5 (BUR) 8 (BOU) 6 (NAP) 8 (MNU) 7.5 (WOL) 7 (NEW) 9.5 (ARL)
December Average Rating	7.19	Season Average Rating	6.56

 

A much-improved month for Firmino, who ended 2018 with an excellent hat trick against Arsenal, who he has now scored eight goals against in as many appearances. He started the month with one of his weakest Liverpool performances yet, in the derby, but was influential in the comeback win at Burnley. After being introduced from the bench, the Brazilian scored the second goal from a Van Dijk cross to put Liverpool in the ascendency. Napoli and Man United saw typical all-action displays from Firmino, as he looked to recreate his 2017/18 form. Crucially, the last few games of the year showed Firmino getting to grips with his new role in the 4-2-3-1 system, affecting play from deep while still being an immense attacking threat. His performance against Arsenal was phenomenal, capitalising on an error to equalise before slaloming past Mustafi and Sokratis to score one of the best individual goals of the season, finishing his hat trick with a fine penalty in the second half. Come on Roberto, let’s have more of this in 2019!

 

10) Joel Matip

December Stats		Season Stats
Starts	3	Starts	6
Sub Appearances	0	Sub Appearances	5
Goals	0	Goals	1
Match Ratings this month: 6 (BUR) 7.5 (BOU) 8 (NAP)
December Average Rating	7.17	Season Average Rating	6.67

 

Another victim of Liverpool’s defensive injury crisis in December, Matip was drafted in to replace the unfortunate Joe Gomez. He was extremely solid in all of his games, particularly the Napoli game in which he defended brilliantly to prevent the Italians. His collarbone injury came at the worst possible moment with the Cameroon centre back expected to be unavailable until the back end of January.

 

11) Dejan Lovren

December Stats		Season Stats
Starts	4	Starts	10
Sub Appearances	1	Sub Appearances	1
Goals	1	Goals	1
Match Ratings this month: N/A (NAP) 7 (MNU) 7 (WOL) 7.5 (NEW) 7 (ARL)
December Average Rating	7.13	Season Average Rating	6.85

 

Lovren has been brought back in the team for a run of games due to Gomez and Matip becoming unavailable through injury. The Croat has responded very well, producing a series of solid and dependable performances. He has formed a good partnership with Virgil Van Dijk and has managed to rediscover his form from the back end of last season. While there have been a few shaky moments, such as the goals conceded against United and Arsenal, but his response to these small mistakes has been immaculate – with the number six putting errors behind him and performing admirably in the remainder of matches.

 

12) Georginio Wijnaldum

December Stats		Season Stats
Starts	6	Starts	23
Sub Appearances	1	Sub Appearances	2
Goals	0	Goals	1
Match Ratings this month: 7 (EVE) 6.5 (BOU) 8 (NAP) 7 (MNU) 6 (WOL) 6 (NEW) 9 (ARL)
December Average Rating	7.07	Season Average Rating	7.14

 

A mixed month for the Dutch midfielder, but one which has seen him have plenty of gametime and continue to be an important part of our midfield. After a few quiet displays to kick the month off, he was excellent in the must-win clash with Napoli – a performance level he replicated in the Arsenal match. Wijnaldum really does rise to big occasions and saves his best performances for the biggest games. It’s interesting how dependable Wijnaldum is in both a 4-2-3-1 and a 4-3-3 – his versatility and dependability have made him one of our biggest players this season.

 

13) Alberto Moreno

December Stats		Season Stats
Starts	1	Starts	3
Sub Appearances	0	Sub Appearances	1
Goals	0	Goals	0
Match Ratings this month: 7 (BUR)
December Average Rating	7	Season Average Rating	6.5

 

 

Moreno was good in his only game of the month, at Burnley. He got up and down the flank well and offered himself as an outlet, even after being on the wrong end of a horrific tackle from Phil Bardsley. Moreno missed the last few games of December with a minor injury. The month will be remembered more for the Spaniard expressing his frustration at a lack of gametime – a move away from Liverpool looks to be edging closer.

 

14) Sadio Mane

December Stats		Season Stats
Starts	6	Starts	24
Sub Appearances	1	Sub Appearances	1
Goals	2	Goals	9
Match Ratings this month: 7 (EVE) 6 (BOU) 6 (NAP) 7.5 (MNU) 7 (WOL) 7 (NEW) 8 (ARL)
December Average Rating	6.93	Season Average Rating	6.68

 

A month which has seen Mane bag two goals and continue his record of big-game performances, with key goals in wins over Manchester United and Arsenal. While his general performance level has been a little off the boil, there have been obvious signs of improvement. His pressing and high intensity play has been key to Liverpool getting upfield, and if Mane can improve his chance conversion rate – like against Everton and Napoli – he will be back to the form he showed on the run to the Champions League final.

 

15) Trent Alexander-Arnold

December Stats		Season Stats
Starts	4	Starts	19
Sub Appearances	1	Sub Appearances	1
Goals	0	Goals	1
Match Ratings this month: 7 (EVE) 6.5 (BUR) 7 (NAP) 7 (NEW) 7 (ARL)
December Average Rating	6.9	Season Average Rating	6.55

 

Alexander-Arnold has experienced a mixed month of performances, similar to how his season has gone. While the attacking side of his game has been as good as ever, consistently offering himself as an overlap and improving his crossing all the time – both from open play and set pieces – he has been leaving something to be desired defensively. He missed a few games through injury and it was a relief to see him back for the final two games of the year, in which he produced solid displays.

 

16) James Milner

December Stats		Season Stats
Starts	4	Starts	17
Sub Appearances	0	Sub Appearances	5
Goals	1	Goals	5
Match Ratings this month: 7.5 (BUR) 6.5 (BOU) 7 (NAP) 6.5 (WOL)
December Average Rating	6.88	Season Average Rating	6.74

 

James Milner has been back to his usual self this month after a few months of average performances prior to Deccember. He was excellent in the midfield against Burnley, winning the ugly side of the game and scoring the equalising goal with a crisp driving finish into the bottom corner. He was shifted to right back against Bournemouth with Alexander-Arnold rested, and performed well out of position – not for the first time in his Liverpool career. He was back in midfield against Napoli before a right back return against Wolves – both of which were very solid displays. The Englishman missed the last two games of 2018 through injury but is expected to be back sooner rather than later.

 

17) Joe Gomez

December Stats		Season Stats
Starts	2	Starts	16
Sub Appearances	0	Sub Appearances	2
Goals	0	Goals	0
Match Ratings this month: 7.5 (EVE) 6 (BUR)
December Average Rating	6.75	Season Average Rating	7.42

 

Joe Gomez’s superb season was halted early in December when he crashed into the advertising hoardings in the first half at Turf Moor. After an impressive defensive display against Everton which featured a phenomenal block on the line to deny his namesake Andre Gomes a goal, the former Charlton man lasted less than half an hour at right back against Burnley before clattering into the sidelines. This resulted in him missing the rest of the month with the fracture, though there is hope that he will be back pretty soon.

 

18) Daniel Sturridge

December Stats		Season Stats
Starts	1	Starts	5
Sub Appearances	2	Sub Appearances	10
Goals	0	Goals	4
Match Ratings this month: 6 (EVE) 7 (BUR) 7 (NEW)
December Average Rating	6.67	Season Average Rating	6.61

 

Barring two short substitute appearances, Sturridge’s only notable gametime this month has been a start at Burnley. He did very well over the course of the 90 minutes, holding the ball up in a similar performance to his own at Huddersfield. The best moment of his match was his delicious first-time pass to Salah after being found by Alisson, which ended up in Shaqiri securing the game with the third goal. I hope Sturridge is given the Wolves game to rediscover some of his early season form.

 

=) Naby Keita

December Stats		Season Stats
Starts	4	Starts	10
Sub Appearances	2	Sub Appearances	8
Goals	0	Goals	0
Match Ratings this month: 6 (EVE) 8.5 (BUR) 7.5 (BOU) 6 (NAP) 7 (MNU) 5 (WOL)
December Average Rating	6.67	Season Average Rating	6.71

 

Naby Keita’s Liverpool career has been very stop-start so far. Each time there looks to be some promise, an injury occurs, and it is frustrating for him. His best performance of the month was away at Burnley, where he ran the show and came ever so close to opening his Liverpool account with a thunderous strike from distance. He was impressive against Bournemouth too, with a double nutmeg in the first half a real highlight. His next few games were less impressive though, with him struggling to have a real impact on the match. He had started very poorly against Wolves, on the left-hand side – definitely not his best position – and was then withdrawn when he suffered yet another injury. We need more from him in the second half of the season.

 

=) Nathaniel Clyne

December Stats		Season Stats
Starts	1	Starts	2
Sub Appearances	3	Sub Appearances	3
Goals	0	Goals	0
Match Ratings this month: 8 (MNU) N/A (WOL) 6 (NEW) 6 (ARL)
December Average Rating	6.67	Season Average Rating	6.25

 

After appearing just once from August until mid-December, Clyne has appeared in four games in a row out of nowhere. It was a surprise to everyone when he started against Manchester United, but he did a very good job, operating up and down the flank and cutting out the threat of Ashley Young. Considering this was his first league start since April, it was a superb display in a massive fixture. He’s had to settle for late sub appearances since then, interestingly replacing Robertson at left back on two occasions – perhaps Clyne will become a backup full back for both right back and left back if Moreno leaves in January? Having said that, there are rumours of Cardiff City being interested in Clyne in the January window.

 

21) Adam Lallana

December Stats		Season Stats
Starts	0	Starts	3
Sub Appearances	3	Sub Appearances	5
Goals	0	Goals	0
Match Ratings this month: 6.5 (BOU) 6 (WOL) 6.5 (ARL)
December Average Rating	6.67	Season Average Rating	5.75

 

A month of short substitute appearances for Lallana to round off a 2018 that has been plagued by injury. The highlight of his December was a lovely through ball to Salah for his third at Bournemouth, other than that it’s just been about match fitness for the England midfielder. We’ll need him fit for the FA Cup tie with Wolves and beyond.

 

Not involved this month: Oxlade-Chamberlain, Mignolet, Brewster, Solanke, Phillips, Jones, Markovic, Kelleher, Camacho, Chirivella, Grabara

 

 

DECEMBER RANKINGS
1	Mohamed Salah	7.94
2	Alisson Becker	7.75
3	Andy Robertson	7.64
4	Virgil Van Dijk	7.63
5	Fabinho	7.5
=	Divock Origi	7.5
7	Xherdan Shaqiri	7.42
8	Jordan Henderson	7.25
9	Roberto Firmino	7.19
10	Joel Matip	7.17
11	Dejan Lovren	7.13
12	Georginio Wijnaldum	7.07
13	Alberto Moreno	7
14	Sadio Mane	6.93
15	Trent Alexander-Arnold	6.9
16	James Milner	6.88
17	Joe Gomez	6.75
18	Daniel Sturridge	6.67
=	Naby Keita	6.67
=	Nathaniel Clyne	6.67
21	Adam Lallana	6.33

 

 

SEASON RANKINGS
1	Virgil Van Dijk	7.6
2	Simon Mignolet	7.5
3	Joe Gomez	7.42
4	Andy Robertson	7.35
5	Mohamed Salah	7.33
6	Alisson Becker	7.29
7	Xherdan Shaqiri	7.26
8	Georginio Wijnaldum	7.14
9	Fabinho	7.12
10	Dejan Lovren	6.85
11	James Milner	6.74
12	Naby Keita	6.71
13	Sadio Mane	6.68
14	Divock Origi	6.67
15	Daniel Sturridge	6.61
16	Roberto Firmino	6.56
17	Trent Alexander-Arnold	6.55
18	Alberto Moreno	6.5
19	Jordan Henderson	6.43
=	Joel Matip	6.43
21	Nathaniel Clyne	6.25
22	Adam Lallana	5.75
23	Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Rhian Brewster, Dominic Solanke, Nathaniel Phillips, Curtis Jones, Lazar Markovic, Caoimhin Kelleher, Rafael Camacho, Pedro Chirivella, Kamil Grabara	N/A