LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, March 1, 2015: Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho Correia celebrates scoring the second goal against Manchester City during the Premier League match at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Liverpool 2–1 Man City: Player Ratings

Following the Reds’ superb performance and victory over Manuel Pelligrini’s title-chasing City, we assess how each Liverpool player and Brendan Rodgers performed on the day.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, March 1, 2015: Liverpool's captain Jordan Henderson celebrates scoring the first goal against Manchester City during the Premier League match at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Liverpool 2-1 Man City
Premier League, Sunday 1 March 2015

Simon Mignolet (out of 10) – 7

The Belgian stopper enjoyed a solid afternoon between the sticks as he continues his surprise resurrection.

A slightly nervy opening which saw some uncharacteristic hesitancy appear in his game was almost ruthlessly punished by Sergio Aguero who saw his effort hit the post, but Mignolet responded strongly and enjoyed a far more commanding and settled second half display.

Emre Can – 7.5

Back in the Reds defensive line after a heavy shift in midfield against Besiktas, Can produced a much more settled performance on the whole.

The German was caught ball-watching for the City equaliser playing Dzeko onside, but it was the only error he made all afternoon in another solid defensive display.

Martin Skrtel – 7.5

The Slovakian has improved hugely in the central role in the back three, and he produced another solid display in between Can and Dejan Lovren.

Skrtel was caught out slightly for the City goal, but in a role where he’s able to play on his raw defensive instinct, the 29-year-old competed superbly all afternoon and barely put a foot wrong despite having his hands full with Dzeko and the majestic Aguero.

Dejan Lovren – 7

After a nervy first 20 minutes on the left of the back three, Lovren settled well to produce a much more assured performance than the last two games.

The Croatian’s distribution was sloppy and unproductive first half – he gave the ball away initially for the City leveller – but defensively Lovren competed well winning some important headers and tackles before going on to enjoy a much more settled second 45 minutes.

Lazar Markovic – 6.5

Coming in to provide fresh legs to the team, Markovic produced a hard working but unspectacular performance in his right wing-back position.

The young Serbian put in a disciplined display defensively to stem the threat of the adventurous Aleksandr Kolorov down the left side, and though he didn’t enjoy much exchange from his Serbian counter-part going forward, he still showed some flashes of brilliance but not regularly enough resulting in his withdrawal.

Jordan Henderson – 8

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, March 1, 2015: Liverpool's captain Jordan Henderson in action against Manchester City during the Premier League match at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

It was another captain’s performance from the stand in skipper who produced another excellent all-round display alongside his sensational opening strike.

Henderson brought energy, drive and tenacity to the Reds midfield where he competed superbly against the powerhouse Yaya Toure, and the 24-year-old’s use of the ball with some excellent forward passing and pressing played a fundamental part in a dominant second half from the Reds.

Joe Allen – 8.5

Only a master class from Philippe Coutinho prevents Joe Allen receiving the Man of the Match award, after the Welshman put in an outstanding performance in midfield.

The Wales international was as reliable as ever in possession – with his ability to start and knit play together a vital feature of a brilliant Liverpool performance – and his defensive awareness and intelligence to close space in the midfield, alongside his ability to keep rhythm in the Reds play was superb.

Alberto Moreno – 7.5   

The Spaniard produced another underestimated and tireless display at left wing-back despite his recent heavy amount of action.

Moreno supported the attack’s well, was always positive in possession attempting to drive against Pablo Zabaleta, and defensively the 22-year-old was switched on too as he provided excellent protection yet again ahead of the improved Lovren, before being rightly withdrawn with just over 10 minutes to go.

Adam Lallana – 8   

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, March 1, 2015: Liverpool's Adam Lallana celebrates his side's 2-1 victory over Manchester City during the Premier League match at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Arguably his best performance in a red shirt so far this season, Lallana enjoyed a productive and hard-working game in attacking midfield.

The 26-year-old was unlucky not to register on the score-sheet on the day and did miss a huge chance when one-on-one early on, but his movement, ability to find space behind the City midfield and intelligence on the ball allowed for some excellent interchanging attacking play with Philippe Coutinho.

Philippe Coutinho – 9.5

A magical performance and stunning winning goal from the little Brazilian unquestionably sees Coutinho deservedly claim the Man of the Match award.

Central to everything good going forward in the Reds attack, the 22-year-old’s link up play, movement and creative spark injected pace and threat to the final third – something Pelligrini’s side failed to live with – and the magician is a complete joy to watch when on form like this.

A superb afternoon’s work from Coutinho.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, March 1, 2015: Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho Correia in action against Manchester City's Fernando Luiz Roza 'Fernandinho' during the Premier League match at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Raheem Sterling – 7.5

It was a much improved performance from the busy make-shift striker after Thursday night’s lethargic showing in Turkey.

While his touch and final pass evaded him at times, Sterling worked a lot harder and showed far more intent in his play – picking up the ball in dangerous areas on occasions and driving at a poor City defence – and his pace and tenacity caused a lot of panic in City’s back line.

 

Substitutes:

Daniel Sturridge – 7 (on for Markovic 76th)

Similarly with Sterling, Sturridge enjoyed a much better impact in the fixture after entering with just over 15 minutes to play.

The 25-year-old striker was much more involved as he provided a respite and helped relieve pressure from City’s attacks with some excellent touches, but he missed a huge chance to wrap the game up as he fired wide across goal late on.

Kolo Toure – N/A (on for Moreno 82)

The experienced Ivorian had little time to make any real impact on the game, but he kept a resolute defence solid and did nothing wrong for the short duration he was on the pitch.

 

Brendan Rodgers – 7.5

ISTANBUL, TURKEY - Thursday, February 26, 2015: Liverpool's manager Brendan Rodgers during the UEFA Europa League Round of 32 2nd Leg match against Besiktas JK at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

The Reds boss selected a good side – the best he could under difficult circumstances – and it paid off with an excellent performance from his team to dominate the Champions after European exploits.

Rodgers was forced into subs mainly due to tiredness to his team, but he made sensible changes bringing on the lively Sturridge for largely ineffective Markovic and introducing Toure to keep things solid defensively for the final moments. A good afternoon for the manager.

Referee: Mark Clattenburg – 7

The man in the middle did a decent job in a pacey and frantic game as he allowed an exciting attacking encounter to flow.

Clattenburg was a little slow to hands out yellow cards – especially to Fernandinho who was awarded one at the fourth time of asking – and he arguably let Wilfried Bony off lightly after a dangerous elbow but overall, one of the better refereeing displays of the season.

 

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Player ratings definitions: 10 = Faultless | 9 = Excellent | 8 = Very Good | 7 = Good | 6 = Average | 5 = Below Par | 4 = Bad | 3 = Very Bad | 2 Awful | 1 = Surely Not

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