Ratings:
Alisson 6.5 - very alert as a sweeper-keeper, but gets half a point deducted for gifting a shooting chance to Kane. No chance for the goal.
Rhys 7 - superb debut overall. Good in challenges, intermittently good at positioning, Spurs let him bring the ball out and he generally did well, just needs more confidence and experience - it was funny watching him apologize to teammates every time he didn’t pick out someone’s run.
Fabinho 7 - boss as usual. One nonchalant attacking run in the 2nd half reminded us what we’re missing from midfield.
Trent 6 - solid enough defensively, but nowhere near his best attacking form and sometimes seemed like he was in a daze. One thing I’m noticing with Trent is that it usually takes him a sustained run of games - 5 or more - to recover his “magic touch,” that brilliant passing and crossing ability that makes him world-class. Without it he’s just a decent attacking full-back.
Robertson 7 - played more cautiously than usual, being mindful of Spurs’ counter-attacking threat, but still delivered the game-winning assist from the corner.
Hendo 6.5 - didn’t have too many memorable moments, but should take a lot of the credit for us moving the ball so quickly particularly in the 1st half. Offered extra protection and guidance to Rhys, as the captain should.
Wijnaldum 8 - one of his best games for the club. Dominated physically and with his passing, drove forward, was sharp and incisive throughout. The cynic in me is saying he’s playing like this for a new contract (here or elsewhere), but whatever the reason it’s great to see.
Jones 7.5 - was causing Spurs major problems in the first half, taking up positions just to the side of their midfield two and finding new and creative ways to infiltrate the penalty area. Eventually they adjusted and in the 2nd half he showed his now customary discipline, covering spaces to guard against the always dangerous counters of Spurs. I thought he tired by the end and was running on fumes, but stuck to his task.
Salah 7 - was running the show at times in the first half, a bit lucky for the goal, but that’s what serial goal-getters do. Not selfish, but sometimes wasteful with his deliveries.
Firmino 8.5 - Bobby’s back to his best! Great turns and crisp passes, created shooting chances for himself and powered an unstoppable header on goal in stoppage time. MOTM
Mane 7 - started looking horribly out of form and short of confidence, was kicked and wrestled to ground constantly and had every decision go against him - and yet he stubbornly stuck with it and kept turning and running at players until Aurier could barely move his legs while Mane kept coming and coming. No goal yet again, but the way he turned his form around within a game was impressive and speaks volumes about his character.
Klopp 8.5 - throughout his LFC career he has always showed the ability to make the players raise their game for big occasions and did it once again. Brave decision to go with the teenage Rhys Williams at CB against the fearsome duo of Son and Kane paid off. I think not disrupting the flow of the game by subs was correct too. We march on and Mourinho bites the dust.
