Liverpool eked out a rollercoaster win to end Manchester City’s unbeaten streak in a scintillating Premier League clash at Anfield on Sunday that ended with the hosts running out 4-3 winners on the night.


The Statesman has awarded ratings for all the players (starting XI and substitutes) who featured in a game that will surely go down in footballing folklore:

Liverpool

Loris Karius (Goalkeeper)

Was unable to justify his inclusion over Simon Mignolet. Made a hash of crosses and should definitely have kept out Sane’s opener.

Rating: 3/10

Andy Robertson (Left-back)

Managed to keep the dangerous Raheem Sterling quiet for most parts and even bombed forward on occasion, without much success. Overall did the job his manager asked him to and looks set to establish himself as the No.1 left-back at Anfield.

Rating: 6/10

Joel Matip (Centre-back)

Sane skipped past him too easily for the equaliser and overall, the Cameroonian didn’t have the best of games. Should have done better for Gundogan’s third as well.

Rating: 4/10

Dejan Lovren (Centre-back)

Liverpool fans must be desperate for van Dijk to shrug off his hamstring complaint for Lovren was… well, Lovren. No massive blunder, to his credit, but the Croatian didn’t exactly cover himself in glory either.


Rating: 5/10

Joe Gomez (Right-back)

Not for the first time this season, Gomez’s positioning was found wanting. The main culprit, apart from Karius of course, for the opener as he tried to intercept the cross-field ball. Sane gave him plenty of trouble all game long and Gomez was lucky the German didn’t score more on the night.

Rating: 3/10

Georginio Wijnaldum (Left Midfield)

A tireless runner in midfield, did well with bursts of pace to stretch City on the counter and was tidy overall. Lack of application in the final third let him down on a few occasions.

Rating: 6/10

Emre Can (Centre midfield)

The burly German did a good job of shielding his defence and was his regular industrious self. Worth noting while he was on the pitch, Liverpool had conceded just one. Faded a bit towards the end, perhaps that’s why Klopp took him off.

Rating: 7/10

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Right Midfield)

Scored a wondrous opener and assisted Firmino for the second, Chamberlain is now looking like the £35 million-signing Liverpool knew he would be. Worked hard for the entire 90 minutes and was man-of-the-match for many.


Rating: 7/10

Sadio Mane (Left wing)

Wasted a few easy chances and then scored the most difficult of them with a blistering left-footed shot. Worked hard to track back, making one brilliant clearance in the box as well. Not his best game, but far from his worst and the Senegalese gave the City defence a torrid time with his physicality and pace.

Rating: 7/10

Roberto Firmino (Centre forward)

On the peripheries of the game for the most part, Firmino sprung into action to score the second goal. He brilliantly held off John stones before dinking Ederson from a tight angle and worked his socks off to play his part in a memorable win.

Rating: 8/10

Mohamed Salah (Right wing)

When the Anfield crowd was exhorting their side to score a fourth, there was only one man who would answer the call. Excellent all game long, kept leaving his marker in the dirt and deservedly got on to the scoresheet. Assisted Mane as well.

Rating: 9/10


Substitutes

James Milner (Centre midfield)

Replaced the fading Can at the end but was unable to shield the defence as the German did.

Rating: 5/10

Adam Lallana (Right wing)

Rating: N/A

Came on with two minutes left, couldn’t do much.

Ragnar Klavan (Centre-back)


Klopp sent him on as Liverpool defended a free-kick deep in injury-time.

Rating: N/A

Manchester City

Ederson (Goalkeeper)

Unhcaracteristically sloppy display. Struggled to collect crosses, gifted Salah his goal. Probably his poorest performance in a City shirt.


Rating: 3/10

Fabian Delph (Left-back)

Was doing fine until an awkward fall brought his involvement in the game to an end shortly after the half hour-mark.


Rating: 6/10

Nicolas Otamendi (Centre-back)

Not what he’s paid to do, but missed a few chances to get City back in the game. Considering his goalscoring form this season, hard to fathom why the Argentine couldn’t put them away. Defensively was a little wobbly.

Rating: 5/10

John Stones (Centre-back)

Question marks about his physicality will be raised again, especially in the manner the slight Firmino shrugged him off enroute to scoring Liverpool’s second goal.

Rating: 4/10

Kyle Walker (Right-back)

Involved in one City goal but couldn’t get forward as much as he would have liked. His battle with Sadio Mane was an intriguing one, but one would have to give this round to the Reds winger.

Rating: 5/10

Ilkay Gundogan (Left midfield)

Started slowly, like the rest of his teammates, but gradually grew into the game. Has been playing extremely well of late and scored an excellent goal to make it 4-3 in injury-time.

Rating: 7/10

Fernandinho (Centre midfield)

Not what is expected from the league’s finest defensive midfielder. Gave away possession in dangerous areas and wasn’t quick enough in closing down.

Rating: 3/10

Kevin De Bruyne (Right midfield)

By his usually stratospheric standards, an off-night. Sent in some inviting crosses, which just about evaded his teammates. Had a scuffed shot from distance but was mostly a night to forget for the Belgian.

Rating: 5/10

Leroy Sane (Left wing)

Was rewarded for his graft with a well-taken goal. Bamboozled Gomez with ease.

Rating: 7/10

Sergio Aguero (Centre forward)

Perhaps he didn’t get the ball in the right areas or perhaps he just wasn’t on his game. Matip and Lovren managed to shackle him fairly well, but the diminutive Argentine still managed to be involved in one goal (Gundogan’s).

Rating: 6/10

Raheem Sterling (Right wing)

Possibly the worst outfield player in the Sky Blues jersey. Struggled to get past Robertson, got booked and was generally not in sync with his teammates.

Rating: 2/10

Substitutes

Danilo (Left-back)

Replaced the injured Delph shortly after the half-hour mark but struggled to cope with Liverpool’s pace forwards. Considering he’s right-footed, perhaps not a surprise but more is expected from the Brazilian.

Rating: 4/10



Bernardo Silva

Replaced Sterling, who was on the verge of getting sent off, and managed to spark some hope by scoring the second goal.

Rating: 6/10