Klopp made 7 changes from Saturday, which I think was absolutely right - you have to protect our best players for the rest of the season and it's much easier to get injured when playing through fatigue (the weather condidtions were dangerous too). Attack never really clicked, but confidence is so important in football - and I think it was the key for us in the end. Even after Burnley equalized, you could feel the players still had the belief and they never got frustrated by what seemed like an objectively frustrating game. To pick 6 points from back-to-back games against 2 former bogey teams is simply marvellous and a testament to this team's growth.
Mignolet 6.5 Calm distribution, a couple of routine saves, could do nothing for the goal.
Arnold 6.0 I thought he was rather poor, kept giving the ball away cheaply and not really switched on in defense or adventurous enough in attack. Still, his crosses always caused a problem, including a deflected assist for Mane and that shot was once again Gerrard-like. He could really benefit from playing closer to goal so that he can try that shot 3-4 times per game, not just one.
Lovren 7.0 A couple of unnecessary fouls aside, didn't put a foot wrong in defense. Plus 0.5 for the game-winning header/shot/assist.
Klavan 6.5 Calm and composed in defence as usual, but I thought if anyone was at fault for the goal, it was him - once you lose a header so close to the goal, you are relying on luck not to concede. Redeemed himself with the injury-time winner, although was it offside by any chance?
Gomez 5.5 Looked surprisingly uncomfortable on the left, considering his confident performances there 2 years ago under Rodgers. We really missed that attacking thrust from left wing that Moreno, Robertson and even Milner used to provide and that in turn skewed our entire shape, with Ox having to play too deep and the front 4 forced to attack without the potent tool of overlapping runs from fullbacks. Goal came from a player he was marking, but I don't think it was his fault; however he had trouble closing down Gudmunsson all game.
Can 7.0 A very solid midfield performance, even more impressive considering it was his 2nd 90 minutes in 3 days. Always looking to drive forward and won most of his duels.
Wijnaldum 6.0 The usual from Gini - kept the ball well and closed the space, but you'd like more attacking quality from a talented player like him.
Mane 6.5 The overall performance was nothing to sing about, but the awesome thing about Mane is that out of nowhere he can always produce a moment of unstoppable quality and power and he did so again when we really needed it. Once again, there is no evidence that he plays better on the right than on the left - if anything, he is better when he gets a chance to attack through the middle when he is forced to make quick instinctive decisions, like he did for the goal.
Lallana 6.5 Clearly not at his sharpest yet in his first start after a long injury layoff, but gave it his all and was diligent on defense, like that goal-saving tackle in the first half.
Oxlade 7.0 Looked our most in-form attacking player on the day, unfortunately because Gomez was too deep he didn't get the ball in promising attacking areas as often as he should. Still, whenever he got the ball, he usually did something positive with it. Denied a goal by an unreal close-range save from Pope.
Solanke 5.0 Not being harsh, but he really looked not ready for this level, touch almost always heavy and too late with his runs. One positive was that he never stopped working and trying, excellent attitude but far short on quality at the moment.
Subs:
Firmino 7.0 Instantly added qualty and composure to the forward line after his introduction.
Milner, Matip n/a
Mignolet 6.5 Calm distribution, a couple of routine saves, could do nothing for the goal.
Arnold 6.0 I thought he was rather poor, kept giving the ball away cheaply and not really switched on in defense or adventurous enough in attack. Still, his crosses always caused a problem, including a deflected assist for Mane and that shot was once again Gerrard-like. He could really benefit from playing closer to goal so that he can try that shot 3-4 times per game, not just one.
Lovren 7.0 A couple of unnecessary fouls aside, didn't put a foot wrong in defense. Plus 0.5 for the game-winning header/shot/assist.
Klavan 6.5 Calm and composed in defence as usual, but I thought if anyone was at fault for the goal, it was him - once you lose a header so close to the goal, you are relying on luck not to concede. Redeemed himself with the injury-time winner, although was it offside by any chance?
Gomez 5.5 Looked surprisingly uncomfortable on the left, considering his confident performances there 2 years ago under Rodgers. We really missed that attacking thrust from left wing that Moreno, Robertson and even Milner used to provide and that in turn skewed our entire shape, with Ox having to play too deep and the front 4 forced to attack without the potent tool of overlapping runs from fullbacks. Goal came from a player he was marking, but I don't think it was his fault; however he had trouble closing down Gudmunsson all game.
Can 7.0 A very solid midfield performance, even more impressive considering it was his 2nd 90 minutes in 3 days. Always looking to drive forward and won most of his duels.
Wijnaldum 6.0 The usual from Gini - kept the ball well and closed the space, but you'd like more attacking quality from a talented player like him.
Mane 6.5 The overall performance was nothing to sing about, but the awesome thing about Mane is that out of nowhere he can always produce a moment of unstoppable quality and power and he did so again when we really needed it. Once again, there is no evidence that he plays better on the right than on the left - if anything, he is better when he gets a chance to attack through the middle when he is forced to make quick instinctive decisions, like he did for the goal.
Lallana 6.5 Clearly not at his sharpest yet in his first start after a long injury layoff, but gave it his all and was diligent on defense, like that goal-saving tackle in the first half.
Oxlade 7.0 Looked our most in-form attacking player on the day, unfortunately because Gomez was too deep he didn't get the ball in promising attacking areas as often as he should. Still, whenever he got the ball, he usually did something positive with it. Denied a goal by an unreal close-range save from Pope.
Solanke 5.0 Not being harsh, but he really looked not ready for this level, touch almost always heavy and too late with his runs. One positive was that he never stopped working and trying, excellent attitude but far short on quality at the moment.
Subs:
Firmino 7.0 Instantly added qualty and composure to the forward line after his introduction.
Milner, Matip n/a
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