Player ratings: West Brom 1-2 Liverpool
Just when you think you’ve seen it all… An excruciating match to watch, finishing with one of the craziest moments I’ve ever seen on a football pitch. Let’s see how the lads got on.
Alisson (10) – Where do you even start. He was in line for a decent score anyway as he had to deal with a number of awkward crosses throughout the game and deal with them he did. Couple of fairly routine saves too but then… Just as even the most optimistic of fans were starting to come to terms with Thursday night football again, Alisson comes up for a last minute corner and basically just saunters up and nods it in the net, cool as you like. A header any CF would be proud of and in the circumstances, just incredible. If we’re playing Champions league football next season, we’ve Alisson to thank for it and not for the reasons you’d think. After that winner, there could be only one McMOTM this week.
TAA (7.5) – A large part of our recent mini resurgence has been the return to form of Trent. Wasn’t at his absolute best tonight, few wayward crosses, missed a glorious late chance and for god sake, let someone else take a free kick but he was a constant outlet down our right hand side, always positive and looking to make things happen. Rewarded for his efforts with the assist for the winning goal.
Phillips (6) – Little bit of a reality check. I heard Nat called the “New Hypia” in the media this week and thought steady on now. Today was a reminder that Nat is still a young player, playing his first season of Premier league football. All at sea positionally at times and played Robson-Kanu onside for the opener. Played with his usual endeavour however and it’s good to have a proper physical presence at CB again, that’s been missing in Virgil’s absence.
Williams (6) – Similar to Nat, after a steady display at Old Trafford there were a few moments watching through the slits of your fingers. Did make one excellent defensive header however, when caught between two opposition players.
Robertson (6) – Far from Robbo’s best game as he was guilty of a few sloppy passes. When Robbo plays next to Rhys, he always looks like he doesn’t know whether to stick or twist, bomb on as usual or drop deeper to protect his CB. The problem with that is, he gets caught in between positionally. What I mean by that is, if he bombs on then the midfielder on his side knows to drop in and cover. If he drops back then the midfielder on his side occupies the space in front of him. By not doing either and being half and half positionally, all he’s doing is leaving space in front of him and then too big a gap between himself and Rhys, leaving the ball in between them on all day long. He needs to just trust Rhys to do his job, the manager’s picked him, play your natural game.
Fabinho (7) – Decent display from Fabinho, did his usual midfield patrolling and got forward when he could. Couple of long range strikes but well off the standard we know he’s capable of. Good to have him back in midfield however.
Thiago (9) – Tonight’s victory will be bittersweet for Thiago, as never in 4KK ratings history has a player had McMOTM so cruelly ripped from their grasp in the last minute of a game. Outstanding display from Thiago as he ran the show in midfield. West Brom had no idea what to do with him, when they try to press him, he just drops the shoulder and glides past them and he was killing them with his passing. Thiago has had many doubters this season but I’m pleased to say I wasn’t one of them. He’d barely had a training session with the team when he was thrown straight in at the deep end after his injury, playing every midfield role with different partners beside him and different CB’a behind him every game. It was always going to take time for him and the team to get used to each other. Now they are, I hope everyone who doubted him can now see what he’s all about and appreciate not everything is about goals and assists. He’s a Rolls Royce of a midfielder and I can’t wait to see him in a fully fit team next season.
Jones (5) – Young Curtis looked like a player who hasn’t had a lot of minutes in this match. No lack of effort from him but seemed to be lacking match sharpness to me. Couple of nice turns and retained possession well enough but little to no influence on the game.
Salah (7) – Superb first time strike out of nowhere to level the scores but frustrated and frustrating after that as none of our big chances were falling to the only player I’ve any faith in finishing them at the moment but also Salah himself, running into trouble and struggling to get in a position to hurt West Brom. Still in line for that golden boot though. Mind you, I wonder what he makes of Bobby being made captain. Cue a string of interviews 😉
Firmino (5) – After a brace at Old Trafford it was Groundhog Day with Bobby once more. Shocking miss first half, the kind of chance you’d expect your centre back (or maybe your goalie?) to stick away. Klopp must see that we can’t go on missing the chances we are. I’d like Bobby to stay but I think the false 9 has run its course and we need a goal scorer moving into next season.
Mane (5) – Missed a good chance first half but looked lively. Absolutely stank the place out second half though, his confidence looks absolutely shot to pieces and its affecting every aspect of his game, even physically. We’re used to marvelling at Mane’s strength as players bounce off him. Now he’s bouncing off other players, far too easy to dispossess, not shooting when the chances are there and a first touch like a trampoline. Klopp’s got a job on his hands rebuilding Mane’s confidence for next season.
Subs:
Shaqiri (6) – Huffed and puffed and even did a bit of defensive dirty work but unable to provide the moment of attacking spark Klopp had hoped. When you use players so sparingly however, it’s difficult to expect them to come on second half having barely played in months and immediately have a big influence.
Wijnaldum (6) – Brought some fresh energy to proceedings but another guilty of missing the target when the goal beckoned.
Kloppwatch (7) – Klopp will know that if we’re playing Champions League next season, it’s an absolute smash and grab. Never in a million years have we performed like a top four team this season and Klopp has a job on his hands going into next season. It’s been a bruising season physically for half the squad and psychologically for the other half. I do think a fully fit squad and we’re a completely different animal but there are a few players in the squad who’s confidence is badly dented.
Summary
SuperSub wrote a brilliant article recently called Addiction where he spoke about our addiction to football and LFC and nothing encapsulated that addiction more than this game. Let’s not be fooled by that wave of elation we’re all currently riding high on, that game was a torturous watch for 94 minutes.
Such an insipid start, they were all over for us in the opening 20 minutes and you’d have thought it was us with nothing to play for and them chasing a European spot. Soft early goal conceded and we fell into the familiar pattern. Chance after chance going begging, you can see the confidence draining from the team as the game went on, too many touches, turning down the opportunity to shoot. We’ve seen it so many times this season and in the last minute of the game as the goalkeeper comes up for the corner in a final, desperate throw of the dice, I was a ball of rage, frustration and despondency… And just at that moment does the keeper not go and just pop it into the back of the net…
Boom!! There’s an explosion of endorphins in the brain, adrenaline surges, a wave of emotions sweep through you, unmitigated joy, disbelief, excitement, all rolled into one moment of sheer footballing bliss! You let out some kind of yell you’ve never heard before, or like me, fall off your couch. This is why we do it! For moments like this!! This has made the 94 minutes of emotional turmoil worth it. This Is feeding our addiction and I f**king love it!
Watching our players celebrate with Alisson, watching Klopp hugging him as he’s in tears and watching his interview afterwards reminded me of why I love this team so much as well. That togetherness has been tested at times this season but watching them together after the game brought a lump to my throat. Even though this season has been unlike any other, it’s still a special time to be a Liverpool fan with these boys and this manager and today I think I love football a little bit more again than I did before the game. That love has been tested this season but moments like today are what it’s all about.
Now our fate is simple. Two games, two wins and the smash and grab is complete. Walk on!!
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