Liverpool – Manchester City 3-2 Match Report

Ratings:

Hart: Made a great save to deny Gerrard, but his positioning directly behind Kompany was strange to say the least. Over-committed himself on one occasion in the first half, and got away with it: 6

Zabaleta: Un characteristically gave the ball away cheaply a couple of times early on, but rallied to give us the solid presence at right back that we come to expect: 6

Vincent Kompany is a Manchester City legend. One of the greatest players ever to wear the light Blue of Manchester City. On this occasion he admirably played in pain, having suffered a knock on his knee in Saturday’s free kick practice, and it probably affected his performance. He was turned inside out too easily for their first, fouled and outmuscled by Skrtel for their second and he made a mistake for their winner when normally he would normally have smashed a regulation clearance down the pitch. That doesn’t change one little bit what True Manchester City supporters think of him. We still hold him in the highest esteem as a player and as a man: 4

Demichelis: Another good solid show from him, and he is looking like a player with 36 caps and 7 years at Bayern behind him. He managed not to be tricked by Suarez: 7

Clichy: Like his tea mates, he suffered a slow start. He was outmuscled by Suarez in the build up for Liverpool’s opener and he wasted a good position when delivered a poor cross into Mignolet’s arms. After the break, he improved immeasurably to be an important link player in attack, especially in the build up to our equaliser: 6

Navas: Provided two searching crosses in the last 15 minutes of the first half but like several others, he was missing in action before that. Replaced by the manager who went for the more muscular qualities of Milner: 5

Yaya: Overun and outpaced before his injury in the 19th minute: 5

Fernandinho: Once we got into the game he was already in a more advanced midfield role and he became a driving influence, especially in our first goal: 6

Nasri: Off the pace in that wretched first half but enjoyed some success when he got closer to Silva in the second half, especially when he provided the pass for the second goal. A quieter show from him, though, overall and he might benefit from a rest on Wednesday: 6

Silva: Great players change games, and Silva is one such player. Always intelligent, he invariably judges a pass perfectly and is always at least two moves ahead. Took his goal brilliantly well here, and his awareness and drive created the second: 8 (Man of the Match)

Dzeko: Held the ball well and always showed throughout the game. Unfortunate to be substituted but there was only going to be one striking berth available in this formation and Aguero was ready for action: 7

Subs:

Garcia (for Yaya 19): Assertive. Lent more muscle to midfield and Liverpool found it harder to get at us: 7

Milner (for Navas 49): An intelligent, driving, skilful performance in the second half, it was no coincidence that he played a part in both City goals. Must start more games, especially big games like this one: 8

Aguero (for Dzeko 67) almost set up a goal that might have won the game. The signs are encouraging: 7

Refwatch: Clattenburg: He didn’t have the courage to issue the second yellow card that was well merited by Suarez, and failed to award us a penalty in the first half which he could not have missed. Whether that was intentional or not, that means he ended up favouring Liverpool, because he allowed a player who should have been dismissed, to stay on the pitch. The Skrtel handball, whilst blatant was difficult to spot in real time, with heads and arms everywhere Clattenburg’s refereeing was at best a cowardly, and at worst, biased.: 1

Best Opponent: Philip Coutinho: A livewire and box of ricks, he worked very hard too. He adjusted well to changes of position. He started off on the left of Rodgers’ much vaunted “Diamond” (stop laughing at the back), then revelled in his more advanced role after Sturridge went off injured and took his goal brilliantly (if you’re a Liverpool fan especially) and crushingly (for us): 8