How the Manchester City players rated in their thrashing of Liverpool.
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Manchester City have continued their perfect start to the season, with the Premier League title holders swatting aside last season’s closest rivals Liverpool with a 3-1 victory at Eastlands.
This is how Manuel Pellegrini’s men rated in their comfortable victory:
GK) Joe Hart (6) – One or two nervy moments from corners, but was largely untroubled as Liverpool struggled to create shots on target to trouble the England international.
RB) Pablo Zabeleta (8) – Zabaleta is a truly excellent footballer, offering very little to get in behind down his side whilst also offering an overlapping threat when City moved forward. Could do nothing about the Liverpool goal, if it is awarded as an own goal.
CB) Vincent Kompany (7) – Largely solid, with Liverpool focusing most of their attacks down the other side of the City defence.
CB) Martin Demichelis (6.5) – Generally in control, but Liverpool got slightly more joy out of the experienced Argentine than they did out of Kompany.
LB) Gael Clichy (6) – The one player in the City defence who was caused genuine problems by Liverpool, with Raheem Sterling getting the better of him on occasion in the first half and Daniel Sturridge overpowering him during the build-up to the Liverpool consolation.
RM) Samir Nasri (7) – Seemed like a fairly quiet game by Nasri – but he played a huge role in the first two of City’s goals and is a real creative threat.
CM) Fernando (7) – Fernando was solid, neat in possession and covered ground well – but it is hard to see what he offers that Fernandinho does not.
CM) Yaya Toure (6.5) – One of Toure’s quieter games, with City doing their damage through the creativity of Nasri, Jovetic and Silva as opposed to the Ivorian’s midfield drive.
LM) David Silva (9) – A majestic performance by Silva, whose Liverpool could never pick up throughout the match – he simply glided into space and created for Jovetic and Dzeko.
SC) Stevan Jovetic (9) – Along with Silva, Jovetic was the huge difference between the two sides, not just in terms of two very well taken goals, but his all-round play and contribution to City’s build-up.
SC) Edin Dzeko (6) – A quiet night by Dzeko who was substituted off mid-way through the second half, but he was neat on the ball and allowed Jovetic to play.
Sub: Jesus Navas (7) – Came on for David Silva mid-way through the second half and was largely quiet, but deserves extra marks for the through ball to Aguero alone.
Sub: Sergio Aguero (8) – Not risked from the start by Manuel Pellegrini, Sergi Aguero once again made an impact as a sub – with a fine goal after 23 seconds.
Sub: Fernandinho (6.5) – Largely sent on to help City shut up shop late on, did his job with a quiet efficiency.
Manuel Pellegrini (8) – This was a game that City grew into and, perhaps, was won as much on the individual displays of Jovetic and Silva as the tactical set-up of Pellegrini – but credit to the Chilean for allowing his talented players to flourish.