Tough to write something after that - just want to disappear for a while.
Ming 6.5: Mixed bag from Ming. Was punching and patrolling his area like he's never done in his life for the first 20 minutes. Then his ability to actually kick a ball properly came back to plague him; he can't have full responsibility for the goal but he certainly played his part. I was back to wishing we'd never heard of him and then, with the game pressed, he pulled off one very good save and one left handed stop at his near post which was Dudek in it's quality. He's as maddening as hell.
Enrique 5.5: I'm thinking he was injured early on though he certainly figured out their right side half way through. His passing was terrible and aimless, out of position several times but was quick enough to bully them anyway. Still, he looked cumbersome and, really, a strange starter.
Lovren 6: Thought it was one of his best performances for us. Showed commitment, looked massively more assured with Lucas stood in front of him. Couple of hairy moments in the air though and some of his passing too was just schoolyard though he would probably claim he was clearing it away from Ming.
Skrtel 6: Looked a disaster waiting to happen when passing it back and forward with Ming. Crowded the opposition forwards and really didn't give them the space I think they were expecting. Again, not anywhere near as good in the air as we need and needs someone organising him more closely. Actually tried hard up front and nearly stole something.
Johnson 6: So, got into as many dangerous positions as anybody in the first half but never produced an end product. That said he didn't panic and looked to create something rather than blaze away which has been a problem in the past. Still got some pace but doesn't use it nearly enough.
Lucas 6.5: Thought he was very good almost the entire time he was there. Couple of challenges which should have had his name sung from the rafters and instead just got him booked. Gave the ball away too often when trying to thread some through balls in the 2nd half and was probably the right player to be subbed.
Allen 6.5: Also very tidy though not as composed as he needed to be. However, got the ball moving faster than others though his first thought was always backwards when there were better, easier options forward. Never stopped and was wonderfully committed.
Gerrard 7: I'm prepared to accept that the rating might be too high. He was dreadful in the first 35 minutes. Couldn't get a cross in to save his life, looked uninterested, not quick enough and constantly giving the ball away with poor touches and passing to nobody. Had a better 10 minutes at the end of the first half but then started the 2nd half in really poor touch and, again, looked resigned to the loss. Then, with maybe 25 minutes left he started to click. Great effort to set up Sterling, inches short to get a goal or a pen and then an absolutely world class free kick which wouldn't have been saved by anybody in football. Looked to be dragging us forward with sheer force of will. His last 25 minutes really isn't enough to cover the rest of his game but that free kick was something else.
Henderson 5.5: Unlike Gerrard he didn't really have anything to save his performance. The only positive was really that his running or effort to get involved seemed to be returning. Otherwise his ability to control a ball, terrible passing and a penchant for getting in the way of his own team mates was shocking. Nearly redeemed himself entirely with a wonderful strike in the last minutes which their keeper did well to beat away.
Sterling 7.5: Thought he was very good. Was pretty clear that he needed to be through the middle from early on so was pleased with Rodgers changing it at half time. Could have done much better with a couple of chances to create - particularly in the first half. Ultimately, while he caused them tremendous problems (even double teamed) he didn't end up with an end product. However, still ran hard all match and the fatigue which he seemed to be struggling with a month ago seems to have largely dropped away.
Lambert 5: Didn't do anything - was almost as bad as having Borini though, at least with Lambert, there was the possibility he might make something happen. Didn't get himself into the right positions often enough, was well handled by their CB's and looked weighed down by the expectation of the night.
Moreno 6: My major criticism of Rodgers - thought he should have started. Certainly got a mistake in him but was much more effective than Enrique when he came on and offered a real threat down the left. Not sure if he can build on that and needs games or if he's just got that error. Smashing foul when things were getting tasty after the red.
Markovic n/a: Looked good and encouraging for the remainder of the season but, unfortunately, wasn't on long enough. If the hand had hit the shoulder or chest (as it was meant to) nobody would even have noticed. It went higher cause it wasn't needed - the defender couldn't have caught him with a race car. Looked like it was going to kill us but actually helped.
Coutinho 6: Really thought he or Lallana should have been on earlier and, while he didn't create anything directly after he came on he did make them uncomfortable when running at them.
Rodgers 5.5: I actually thought I could see what he was doing with the starting line-up. Could keep it tight, play controlled and with Gerrard, Sterling or Lambert a good chance of finding the net. The Enrique start was the thing that annoyed me. If he'd gone with Moreno - the sensible choice - from the start we'd have had the option of bringing on Lallana as well as Coutinho and Markovic. Ultimately the players are obviously struggling with expectation. Once the red seemed to kill our hopes we started to play much better. The crowd thought it was over, the players probably did too and, without that expectation, they played much better and with freedom. That's what Rodgers goal needs to be from now on - create that freedom.
