Liverpool beat British Rivals Scotland’s Rangers in their 3rd Champions League Fixtures with 2 set-piece goals coming from Trent and Salah.
Liverpool FC vs Rangers: Player Ratings
Goal Keepers and Defenders
Alisson Becker (GK) – 7/10
We would not have known any different if Andy Lonergan had been playing in goal during the first half.
In the second half, he had to make one pass through a press and one high-cross claim. Busy!
Trent Alexander-Arnold (RB) – 8.5/10
An absolutely stunning free kick that went directly into the top corner set the Reds up for success right away. A few incredibly risky situations in open play from outside, as well as some pretty excellent deliveries down the flank towards Salah.
Wasn’t really put to the test defensively in the first half, which may be a nice step forward for our right-back in terms of confidence.
Virgil van Dijk (CB) – 7/10
Keeping the pressure on and tackling exceptionally high in the Rangers half to stop them from playing over the top.
Joel Matip (CB) – 7.5/10
Matip had a quiet outing, which is good with us in light of recent developments in the Reds’ defensive unit.
Kostas Tsimikas (LB) – 7/10
In the first half, he was frequently high and in advantageous positions. But he rarely seemed to find the proper shape for his cross or cut-back. He lost a few good overlaps by only finding people in the Anfield Road End.
However, a few corners did present difficulties for the Rangers. And he was constantly available to push and press high upfield.
Midfielders
Thiago (CM) – 8/10
With the obvious caveat that Liverpool were rarely pushed by runners from deep as they have been so frequently lately, he and Henderson generally worked effectively together. Thiago came back to make a fantastic sliding challenge on the one occasion it occurred in the second half.
Henderson (CM) – 7.5/10
The more defensive of our two pivots in open play, Henderson was content to play the ball short from deeper positions most of the time on this occasion. However, he did create two excellent through-balls, one lofted and one low, to crack open the Rangers’ defense.
Turned too easily more than once, but it finally didn’t hurt anything, thus it was a step forward with some room for improvement.
Forwards
Diogo Jota (CF) – 8/10
played perfectly off Nunez and did a great job with it. Always able to discover gaps between the dense columns of blue shirts, flip over possession skillfully, and link play.
Mohamed Salah (RW) – 9/10
One of his busiest and greatest performances, in part because he was given far more room than he usually does at home.
Shown in incredible strength and awareness on several occasions to get past his opponents and weave incredibly delicate passes between them, generally for Darwin to run onto.
Despite having one curling attempt sent wide slid home his penalty with his usual coolness.
Luis Diaz (LW) – 7.5/10
A decent wide outlet who occasionally felt like he could have performed better when drifting in to shoot right-footed. One high and wide, one low and rolling, both of which were simple saves.
Darwin Nunez (CF) – 7/10
The goalkeeper made two excellent saves, one on a stinging early first-time attempt and the other on strike at the back post. Approximately 30 minutes into those strikes, Darwin put forth a lot of effort but generated little. His channel runs, getting hold of turning around. And an attempted cut-back failing to locate a teammate.
While he wasn’t adept or successful in his strikes, we can at least point to the positives of solid movement behind the defense and instinctive. As he was regularly taking dangerous hits at goal. He was denied twice more before the break – both early shots, on target, well saved.
Substitutes
Roberto Firmino (CF) – 6.5/10
busy but with little action in the penalty area.
Fabinho (CM) – 6/10
Currently, is our Brazilian under a little pressure? If he’s back in the lineup this weekend, he needs to step up his performance.
Elliot (CM) – n/a
He went to the right wing in the 4-2-3-1 formation, with Salah occupying the center of the field.
James Milner (CM) – n/a
a 300th outing for the Reds!
Joe Gomez (CB) – n/a
On just for Trent to get the crowd’s applause.
