Liverpool beat Burnley 2-0 at Anfield on Wednesday, courtesy of goals from Jordan Henderson and Daniel Sturridge either side of half-time.
Liverpool 2-0 Burnley
Premier League, Anfield
Wednesday, 4th March 2015
SIMON MIGNOLET (out of 10)- 7
The Belgian was once again very solid, making a number of decent catches and showing good all-round decision-making. He sliced one back-pass from Dejan Lovren, but that wasn’t his fault anyway.
The 26-year-old in right in the mix to win the Golden Glove award this season; something that was absolutely unthinkable three months ago.
His 11th clean sheet of the season.
EMRE CAN- 8
The 21-year-old really is a colossal young footballer, and he was superb once again against the Clarets. The young German was classy in possession, powerful running with the ball and solid defensively throughout.
There are times when you wonder if he’s almost too confident, but it’s certainly not proving to be an issue right now. Finished the game in a right wing-back role.
Post-match, Brendan Rodgers said he rates him so highly he expects him to be among the world’s best players in a few years’ time.
MARTIN SKRTEL- 7.5
Skrtel was once again very good, as his hugely impressive return to form continues. Has he had a better spell than this in his Liverpool career?
In truth, the Slovakian was rarely troubled, but every time he was called upon he passed with flying colours.
DEJAN LOVREN- 7
https://twitter.com/jacklusby_/status/573226144348147712
The Croatian was good on the whole, and played with more confidence than we have often seen. One delightful back-heeled pass in the first-half when under pressure was a standout moment.
The 25-year-old’s needless back-pass to Mignolet risked undoing his side’s good work though, and you still feel there are mistakes in him.
JOE ALLEN- 7
Allen didn’t have the huge influence that he did against Manchester City on Sunday, but he was a calming influence who was neat and tidy from start to finish.
The Welshman used the ball as intelligently as ever, and he pressed the Burnley midfield effectively too.
JORDAN HENDERSON- 8.5
Another outstanding performance from the captain on the night, as he continues to show there is life after Steven Gerrard.
The 24-year-old thundered home a superb opening goal for his side, before providing an inch-perfect cross for Daniel Sturridge to make it 2-0. Henderson will never be Gerrard, but he is getting better and better by the week.
RAHEEM STERLING- 7.5
The 20-year-old was deployed as a right wing-back, having been used as a lone striker so much of late, and he revelled in his new role.
His pace and trickery was a constant threat to the Burnley defence, and there are signs that the Englishman is returning to his best form.
ALBERTO MORENO- 6.5
This wasn’t Moreno’s finest game of the season, but it didn’t have to be in fairness.
The 22-year-old was solid but unspectacular throughout, and having played a lot in recent weeks, it could be argued that tiredness crept in a little.
PHILIPPE COUTINHO- 8
Shots created or taken tonight:
Coutinho 10, Burnley 9.— Andrew Beasley (@BassTunedToRed) March 4, 2015
Coutinho is in absolutely sparkling form at the moment, and he was superb yet again in front of his adoring fans.
The Brazilian almost scored yet another Goal of the Season contender in the first half, and his general touch, vision and work-rate was a joy to watch.
ADAM LALLANA- 7.5
Lallana’s Liverpool career is yet to properly ignite, but he once again showed why the club spent so much money on acquiring his services last summer.
The former Southampton man looked a class act whenever he had the ball, and his link-up play with the likes of Sterling and Philippe Coutinho was sumptuous at times.
DANIEL STURRIDGE- 6
The Reds’ star striker is still taking time to get back to his very best, but there were signs that he is slowly returning to his top level.
His touch and decision-making was rusty on several occasions, and he should’ve scored when put clean through in the first-half, but he took his goal expertly and improved as the game went on.
Substitutes
KOLO TOURE (on for Moreno ’72)- n/a
The game was already done and dusted when Toure came on, and he had very little to do.
GLEN JOHNSON (on for Sturridge ’83)- n/a
Hit one trademark wayward pass, and that was about it.
RICKIE LAMBERT (on for Sterling ’90)- n/a
Only on the pitch for a matter of minutes.
BRENDAN RODGERS- 7
The Liverpool manager had a pretty easy evening in all honesty, but his decision to play Sterling at wing-back instead of Lazar Markovic paid dividends.
He switched the 20-year-old to the left late on too, with Can going to the right and Toure coming on at centre-back, all of which worked well.
Referee- LEE MASON- 6.5
Mason had a very straightforward evening at the office, in a game that had almost no controversy. He could possibly have awarded Burnley a penalty after Henderson appeared to pull back Danny Ings, but that was about it.
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