After a game against a quality opponent like Spurs I think it makes sense to do a ratings thread again.
Jones - 5.5. Looked very nervous, which is understandable after his last performance in Oldham and coming in with last-minute notice in such an important game. He was a bit lucky no Spurs player managed to get to the ball after he parried it uncertainly again and again. I thought maybe Pepe would have saved one of those two goals though. But have to give Jones credit - he didn't allow no major fuck ups, so at least he did better than Lloris in the opposite goal.
Johnson - 6.0. I didn't think his passing was that bad today, like other posters. He made a few nice attacking plays, got an important tackle on Bale at one point. But partially culpable for both goals.
Carra - 6.0. I thought he did alright, just played at his level. Maybe he was partially culpable for both goals like JJ, although I definitely wouldn't lay all the blame on him. Blocked several Spurs players' shots.
Agger 7.0. One of his best games for us this season. Made a few nice tackles and calm interceptions and few mistakes.
Enrique 6.5. Wonderfully timed pass for the assist and great strength to hold off the challenge in the seconds before that. I thought in defense he was too eager at times. A good game nonetheless.
Lucas 5.5. On the defensive side, there is not much to complain about Lucas's performance: he kept the area near our penalty box pretty much under control together with Gerrard, didn't commit unnecessary fouls (except the one that led to 2nd goal, but it shouldn't have been given) and won quite a few 50/50 balls for us. But his passing was inexplicably off. I think he is still not back to his best.
Gerrard 6.5. Quiet but mostly effective, + 0.5 for the penalty. It bothers me how little he uses his left peg now - for a CM this is not a good thing.
Coutinho 8.0. in the first half, 6.0 in the second (because he barely got the ball as Spurs dominated possession). Did we really get this player for 8.5 million? I think the football gods finally smiled on us. He should be nicknamed "the bee" or something like that for the way he is buzzing about everywhere: great energy, technique and absolute top-class awareness of his teammates' whereabouts. World class potential right here.
Downing 7.0. Smart, composed, professional performance from Stu. His goal turned the game around. I liked how he played when we defended the 3:2 lead too.
Suarez 7.5. Typical performance from him: a great goal and a bit of controversy. But for me maybe the most important quality about Suarez is that he never gives up. He loves winning and even more than that, he hates losing. It can't be overstated how important it is to have such character on a team. If he is not playing for any reason, I think we will miss his attitude and character even more than his skill.
Sturridge 5.5. I think he was either rusty or too "pumped" for the game. His awareness and link-up with Suarez were still there, he just made wrong decisions a lot. After Downing's equalizer I thought he kind of relaxed a bit and let his instincts dictate his decisions more and made some nice contributions.
Subs:
Allen 6.5. All of us hated the substitution at the moment it happened, but Allen actually did pretty well. He even won a few physical challenges, which was surprising given the news about his shoulder injury and possible surgery. I wouldn't say it was necessarily his introduction that changed the game for us (it was more a case of Spurs's defensive mistakes that let us back in), but as the game changed he performed his role nicely, bar one atrocious pass.
Henderson n/a
Jones - 5.5. Looked very nervous, which is understandable after his last performance in Oldham and coming in with last-minute notice in such an important game. He was a bit lucky no Spurs player managed to get to the ball after he parried it uncertainly again and again. I thought maybe Pepe would have saved one of those two goals though. But have to give Jones credit - he didn't allow no major fuck ups, so at least he did better than Lloris in the opposite goal.
Johnson - 6.0. I didn't think his passing was that bad today, like other posters. He made a few nice attacking plays, got an important tackle on Bale at one point. But partially culpable for both goals.
Carra - 6.0. I thought he did alright, just played at his level. Maybe he was partially culpable for both goals like JJ, although I definitely wouldn't lay all the blame on him. Blocked several Spurs players' shots.
Agger 7.0. One of his best games for us this season. Made a few nice tackles and calm interceptions and few mistakes.
Enrique 6.5. Wonderfully timed pass for the assist and great strength to hold off the challenge in the seconds before that. I thought in defense he was too eager at times. A good game nonetheless.
Lucas 5.5. On the defensive side, there is not much to complain about Lucas's performance: he kept the area near our penalty box pretty much under control together with Gerrard, didn't commit unnecessary fouls (except the one that led to 2nd goal, but it shouldn't have been given) and won quite a few 50/50 balls for us. But his passing was inexplicably off. I think he is still not back to his best.
Gerrard 6.5. Quiet but mostly effective, + 0.5 for the penalty. It bothers me how little he uses his left peg now - for a CM this is not a good thing.
Coutinho 8.0. in the first half, 6.0 in the second (because he barely got the ball as Spurs dominated possession). Did we really get this player for 8.5 million? I think the football gods finally smiled on us. He should be nicknamed "the bee" or something like that for the way he is buzzing about everywhere: great energy, technique and absolute top-class awareness of his teammates' whereabouts. World class potential right here.
Downing 7.0. Smart, composed, professional performance from Stu. His goal turned the game around. I liked how he played when we defended the 3:2 lead too.
Suarez 7.5. Typical performance from him: a great goal and a bit of controversy. But for me maybe the most important quality about Suarez is that he never gives up. He loves winning and even more than that, he hates losing. It can't be overstated how important it is to have such character on a team. If he is not playing for any reason, I think we will miss his attitude and character even more than his skill.
Sturridge 5.5. I think he was either rusty or too "pumped" for the game. His awareness and link-up with Suarez were still there, he just made wrong decisions a lot. After Downing's equalizer I thought he kind of relaxed a bit and let his instincts dictate his decisions more and made some nice contributions.
Subs:
Allen 6.5. All of us hated the substitution at the moment it happened, but Allen actually did pretty well. He even won a few physical challenges, which was surprising given the news about his shoulder injury and possible surgery. I wouldn't say it was necessarily his introduction that changed the game for us (it was more a case of Spurs's defensive mistakes that let us back in), but as the game changed he performed his role nicely, bar one atrocious pass.
Henderson n/a
