Doesn't seem to be any post-match thread, so I will put my always hotly anticipated ratings in here, although there's hardly much controversy or discussion; we played really well and Spurs were lucky to lose 2-0.
What is worthy of discussion is the achingly long and genuinely awful six weeks we have suffered. It cannot simply be that Mane is the difference between Liverpool playing like we did yesterday and how we did in his absence. Yes, he's our best finisher and the only player we have with any pace, but can it be that simple?
Whatever the answers, we all know that we need huge investment in summer. But the ratings are for the Spurs game, and we dominated utterly in the first half, and then choked them off in the second. They were second-best all over the pitch and their manager acknowledged as much. It's always great to get a win over a team who usually finish above us, and hopefully we can make the Top 4 finish a certainty rather than a possibility over the next few weeks.
Mignolet (8) Much discussion that his predictable fuck-ups would mean a recall for Karius, but Klopp kept faith, and was rewarded with a great display - caught everything and made two fine saves. He's not good enough as we all know and should be replaced in summer, but that's another discussion
Clyne (8) Full of energy and together with the phenomenal Mane, laid waste to the Spurs left side. Industrious and dangerous
Matip (8) One or two clumsy moments and one terrible challenge, and then turned into a hybrid of Hansen and Lawrenson, with some great forays into their half and several great interceptions, as he throttled Spurs
Lucas (8) He's not good enough, we all know that, but there is the occasional display that is worthy of comment, and he was well on top of Kane and company all game. He never gave him a kick and made several lovely challenges. Great stuff.
Milner (7) Much improved energy and movement, even if he wasn't quite at the level of his counterpart. Got stuck in, which is always nice to see too.
Henderson (8) Christ, why can't he do this every game? His physicality, work rate and movement were all great. Some of his passing was a occasionally rushed and aimless, but he took care of two Spurs players on his own at times. Bravo.
Wijnaldum (8) Another one who raised his game to a level that was simply too much for Spurs to handle. He bossed the midfield in the first half and made things happen with sharp passes and good movement. Faded in the second half though
Coutinho (7) Another player who gave a massively improved performance. He was always on the ball, or looking for it it, then turning towards their goal and trying to make things happen. Shooting was awful, but his radar seems to be slowly coming back
Lallana (8) Hasn't scored for ages, and has been sluggish for weeks. This was more like it, effervescent and aggressive, he gave Spurs no time to breathe or even move. Much more like it.
Mane (9) How we have missed his pace, movement, confidence and most of all, his goals. An unstoppable first half display of speed and precision, that Spurs could not deal with
Firmino (7) Some truly great hold-up play and non-stop pressing, he was far removed from the dismal, sluggish player of the last 6 weeks. Obviously didn't score, but he's not really expected to do so apparently, but this was a fine non-scoring striking display.
