Player ratings: Norwich 0-3 Liverpool
We’re back!! After a couple of months out the ratings hotseat, time to dust it down as we kicked off our new season. Red’s left me some figs in the 4KK writing room (cheers Red) so fully fuelled up, let’s see how the lads got on…
Alisson (8) – Not his busiest afternoon but pretty much flawless in everything he did. Rock solid when dealing with crosses, distribution on point as always and he made a stunning point blank save late in the game, to preserve his clean sheet. Top performance from a top goalkeeper.
TAA (7) – Very promising start from Trent as he looked solid defensively and went forward with his usual endeavour. It was Trent’s cross that led to the opening goal and he showed good link up play with Salah throughout. Trent has properly filled out now too and has become a physical presence on the pitch. I expect big things from him this season and will only improve with Hendo back in midfield.
Matip (7) – I could basically write the same thing for both our CB’s, neither really needing to get out of third gear in this game but great to see Matip back on the pitch. When fit, he’s one of my favourite players. Passing, bringing out from the back both excellent and he’s deceivingly quick. Here’s hoping he can remain fit. 19 Premier league games over the last two seasons really isn’t a great stat.
Van Dijk (7) – How good was it to see our colossus back leading the line and he couldn’t have asked for a much better game to ease himself back into the Premier league. Looked as imperious in the air as ever and his long diagonals from the back are a real weapon for us. I was keeping a close eye on Virgil and my only concern was I didn’t see him attempt a single sprint, on the couple of occasions Pukki or Cantwell got in behind him, he made no effort to close the gap and trusted his mates to deal with it. Virgil pre injury would have just turned the afterburners on and taken the ball back. I did notice a slight change to his running style as well. Hopefully this is as much psychological as physical and he’s not quite trusting the knee to run flat out at the moment which is understandable. Just hoping he hasn’t lost a yard of pace on the back of the injury but he’ll need a few more games before we can really judge that. Great to see the big man back though.
Tsimikas (6.5) – A mixed bag for Kostas on what felt like his debut. He did some stuff really well, looks a threat going forward with his dribbling, good delivery into the box and he managed a decent strike on target second half. He didn’t half have a touch of the ‘Moreno’s’ about him defensively though. Three times he made silly mistakes that could have been costly, one actually earning him a slap around the chops from Milner. Hopefully it will have been a learning curve however, that concentration levels have to be on point at all times in the Premier league. Promising start for him though.
Milner (6.5) – A steady display from Milner as we’ve come to expect. Played the DM role first half, before moving further forward once Fabinho came on. Booking first half meant he had to curtail his game somewhat but kept it simple and did what he had to. A solid, if unspectacular performance.
Ox (5) – Once again, after some promising displays preseason, Ox failed to make any kind of impact when given the chance to shine from the start in games. Struggled to get into the game, seemed on a totally different wavelength to Trent at times and had a couple of long range efforts which were fairly woeful if we’re being honest. I feel for Ox, he’s barely played in two years, it’s difficult to come into the team and have an instant impact but if you have no impact, you’re not getting back in the team. Such is life at a big club.
Keita (6) – Slightly better than Ox, pressed well at times, played one lovely dink (or was it sink?) pass to Trent but over the course of the game, his impact was minimal. The trouble with Keita is, he tends to need three games to get up to speed and then just as he’s starting to look good, he’s out for months. I think his record of consecutive games for us is five but that was across two seasons. I don’t think he’s ever managed more than three consecutive games for us in a single season. That’s extremely poor and it’s make or break for Naby this season. Another injury plagued season and we’ll surely look to get rid next summer.
Salah (8.5) – Was in the game in fits and starts but the stats don’t lie, a goal and two assists (even if one was a little fortunate) in a three nil win, tells you who the danger man was. Took his goal brilliantly, breaking another record in the process for consecutive goals on the opening day of the season. Set up Bobby for a tap in and we saw a different side to Salah yesterday, when he tried to play Mane in when the goal was gaping for himself. Some were saying that’s too selfless and I get that but I liked the fact he was trying to get all our front four on the scoresheet and get the confidence flowing through all of them. It was a real team player thing to do and many, myself included, have accused Salah of being too selfish in the past so it was a nice gesture I thought. Anyway, get that contract signed Mo. (McMOTM?)
Jota (7) – Scored the all important opener, albeit a little fortuitously, as Salah miscontrolled Trent’s pass and Jota mishit the strike but they all count and he’ll be delighted to get his season off to a scoring start. Not his most influential game but he’s a danger man and one brilliant run was cynically ended by Cantwell. Jota’s been a brilliant bit of business by the club, I trust him to deputise for any of our front three.
Mane (6.5) – No lack of endeavour from Mane but perhaps a little low on confidence. Turned up a couple of decent chances to shoot and didn’t look quite as at it as the rest of our attackers. Early days though.
Subs:
Fabinho (7) – Immediate change in our midfield when Fab came on, it basically snuffed out any lingering hopes Norwich may have had. Dominates a midfield almost on his own at times.
Firmino (8) – I thought Bobby was excellent when he came on and immediately we looked more threatening. Rewarded for his efforts with a goal and looked like the Bobby from three years ago. Long may it last.
Elliot (N/A) – Good to see the youngster get some minutes, although wasn’t on long enough to make an impact and it was at a point of the game where we were in cruise control. Got a big cheer from the away support when he came on though, which will do his confidence good.
Kloppwatch (9) – What can you say about your manager when you win 3-0 away from home in your first game of the season, with four key players missing from the team. Take a bow I suppose. I’m not a fan of Ox and Keita in the same midfield, both are arguably better with two more defensive minded midfielders beside them, giving them the freedom to join in the attack. But what do I know, we won the game comfortably so well done Jurgen!
Summary
A perfect start to the season then and we can only expect to improve with the imminent return of Hendo and Thiago. A full 90 minutes under the belts of both Virgil and Matip should do them the world of good as well, goalkeeper in fine form and three out of four of our attackers on the scoresheet. Opening day’s don’t get much better.
Burnley make the trip to Anfield next Saturday at lunchtime and I can’t wait to see a full house at Anfield again, I’m sure it will be rocking and we should really expect to pick up another three points. It will be interesting to see if Klopp rotates his CB pairing for that game as Gomez and Konate need minutes to get up to speed as well. I also expect to finally see the midfield we’ve all been dreaming of, in Fab, Hendo and Thiago.
Things looking rosy in the LFC garden then. A cheeky signing this week would put the icing on the cake but the feel good factor is definitely back. Walk on!!
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