Liverpool look on course for a place in the Champions League semi-finals after a stunning victory at Anfield.
Liverpool beat Manchester City 3-0 to take control of the quarter-final tie. Mohamed Salah, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Sadio Mane got the goals, and here’s how we rated the two teams.
Liverpool
Loris Karius – 6
Untested throughout.
Trent Alexander-Arnold – 7.5
After some shaky performances in recent weeks, Alexander-Arnold looked set to have a difficult night against Leroy Sane. However, the young full-back stood his ground and didn’t let his dangerous opponent get the better of him in the first-half. Sane got in behind a couple of times in the second-half, but Alexander-Arnold was disciplined and will be happy with his night’s work. His delivery into the box was also a threat.
Virgil van Dijk – 7.5
Kept Jesus quiet, won his aerial challenges and led Liverpool’s backline well.
Dejan Lovren – 7.5
With Matip injured for the rest of the season, Lovren has become a guaranteed starter for Liverpool. Judging by his performance tonight, that might not be cause for alarm, as some Liverpool fans might have feared. Lovren wasn’t tested as much as one would have expected, but he was calm in possession and read the game well, making some key interceptions.
Andy Robertson – 7.5
Always willing to push forward and went on a couple of barnstorming runs in the first-half. He’s become a very important player for Liverpool, effective in one on one defensive situations and a danger going forward with a very good delivery.
James Milner – 8
He played an excellent pass in the build-up to the opening goal, spotting the run of Salah and sending him on his way down the channel. Worked hard throughout and linked up well with Robertson in the first-half. He registered his seventh assist in the Champions League this season when he set-up Oxlade-Chamberlain for his goal with a crunching tackle that brought the ball to his teammate.
Jordan Henderson – 7
Liverpool’s deepest midfielder on the night, Henderson had a few shaky moments in the opening minutes, but he mostly used the ball well and worked hard.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – 8
Took his goal brilliantly with a powerful strike after the ball fell to him in space. He was a key cog in Liverpool’s midfield which smothered City’s attempts to play. His runs forward from central positions also posed a threat to City in the first-half.
Sadio Mane – 8
Took his goal very well, drifting to the back post and powering a header home. Mane was also involved in Liverpool’s opener, playing a clever pass to Milner. He was a danger throughout and any suggestion that his form has dipped this season now seems strange.
Roberto Firmino – 7.5
He was the only one of Liverpool’s forwards not to get on the scoresheet in the first half, but Firmino’s contribution went beyond that. He dragged City’s defenders into areas they didn’t want to go – particularly Kompany – with his clever movement and intelligent play, and started the press for Klopp’s side. Firmino’s run and deft pass for Liverpool’s opener was also excellent.
Mohamed Salah – 9
Showed his class for two of Liverpool’s goals, sliding a nice pass into Firmino’s feet and then following his run into the box to open the scoring. When someone is in the right position as often as Salah is, it’s not luck. His cross for Mane’s goal was also excellent, and the City defenders had no answers for his brilliance. Unforunately he had to go off just after half-time.
Georginio Wijnaldum – 6
Came on for Salah in the second-half and worked hard, helping Liverpool’s midfield prevent a City comeback.
Dominic Solanke – N/A
Not on long enough to rate.
Alberto Moreno – N/A
Not on long enough to rate, or to make a mistake.
Manchester City
Ederson – 5.5
Got a hand on Mane’s header, but had no chance for Oxlade-Chamberlain’s goal.
Kyle Walker – 5
Suspect for Liverpool’s first goal and didn’t provide a lot going forward, as Liverpool suffocated City’s attack.
Nicholas Otamendi – 4.5
He was poor for Liverpool’s third goal, losing the ball as he brought it out of defence. He has improved this season, but he struggled at Anfield and appeared to play Salah onside for the opening goal.
Vincent Kompany – 4.5
Suspect for Liverpool’s goals, when he was arguably out of position for all three, particularly the second one. Kompany won the original tackle on Firmino, but then appeared to switch off. He didn’t cover the space behind him when play resumed and Oxlade-Chamberlain found himself with space and time to shoot. He looked uncomfortable throughout, his eagerness to dive in opened up gaps for Liverpool to exploit in the first-half.
Aymeric Laporte – 5
The French central defender played at left-back on Saturday in City’s comfortable win over Everton. It appears that was used as preparation for this Champions League tie, but it turns out playing against Salah and Liverpool isn’t quite the same as playing against Sam Allardyce’s team. He struggled up against the brilliance of Salah, and didn’t really get forward, even when Salah was substituted.
İlkay Gündoğan – 4.5
A surprise selection, with many expecting Guardiola to select Sterling, Gundogan didn’t have much impact on the match and withdrawn just before the hour.
Fernandinho – 5.5
Like the rest of City’s midfield in the first-half, Fernandinho was nullified, finding it hard to get time and space on the ball. He improved after the break, creating a chance for Sane, which he flashed wide, and read the game well, winning the ball back and recording a couple of interceptions.
Kevin De Bruyne – 5.5
He didn’t have any space in the first-half but created a couple of openings for Sane in the second-half.
David Silva – 5.5
It’s difficult to remember Silva having such a quiet night, although he did improve after the break and had more time on the ball.
Leroy Sane – 5
Gave the ball away for Salah’s goal with a poor pass and made a terrible decision a few minutes later, opting to take a scruffy shot when he had much better options either side of him. He was City’s main attacking outlet, brought into play to try to exploit Liverpool’s weakness on the right-side of their defence. However, Sane’s final ball was often poor and he ran down some blind alleys when in possession.
Gabriel Jesus – 5
Completely anonymous and didn’t have a shot in the game.
Subs
Raheem Sterling – 5.5
He didn’t make much of an impact against his old team.
