How we rated Liverpool’s side during their defeat at Upton Park.
Liverpool’s frustrating start to the 2014/15 Premier League season has continued, with a goal from Raheem Sterling not enough to earn anything at Upton Park as early goals from Diafra Sakho and Winston Reid, plus a late Morgan Amalfitano striker, helped the hosts to a deserved victory in the East End.
SEE MORE:
Sterling goal vid
Sakho goal vid
AC Milan vs. Juventus live streaming
Here is how we rated the Liverpool side during their defeat:
GK) Simon Mignolet 5 – The Belgian didn’t do anything obviously wrong, per se, but simply does not inspire confidence in his defence – positioning also could’ve been better for Sakho’s goal.
RB) Javier Manquillo 5 – Was being overrun until injury forced him off the pitch mid-way through the first half
CB) Dejan Lovren 5.5 – Far from the worst in the Liverpool back line but hasn’t had the galvanising effect that had been expected of the £20m man. Perhaps a surprise that he remained on the pitch after a bang to the head.
CB) Martin Skrtel 5.5 – There must be some debate over whether he can play with Lovren – the understanding doesn’t seem to be there at all.
LB) Alberto Moreno 6 – Has had a largely impressive start to his Liverpool career but didn’t offer anywhere near enough down the left flank.
CM) Steven Gerrard 5 – It has gone under the radar slightly, but Steven Gerrard has endured a dreadful start to the season which continued today.
CM) Jordan Henderson 6 – Worked hard but didn’t show enough ambition in his passing when West Ham shut up shop.
CM) Lucas Leiva 5 – Brought into the team to provide steel, but saw his team concede twice inside eight minutes.
ACM) Raheem Sterling 8 – Despite being moved into an unfamiliar position, Sterling was excellent, working hard, creating chances and taking his goal very well.
ST) Fabio Borini 4 – Dreadful stuff from Borini, who was starting his first Premier League game for Liverpool in well over a year – it could be 2016 before we see him again on this display.
ST) Mario Balotelli 6 – Continues to work hard but Liverpool are not playing to his strengths and giving him little to work with.
SUB) Mamadou Sakho 6 – The most impressive of the Liverpool defenders, perhaps worth a real run in the team.
SUB) Adam Lallana 7.5 – His introduction at half time added a little bit of life to Liverpool going forward – certainly brought more creativity than the deeper midfielders
SUB) Rickie Lambert 5 – Pleaded with his side to go long after his late substition, something which they largely ignored.
MAN) Brendan Rodgers 5 – Switch to three at the back helped swing the game back in Liverpool’s favour, but was largely enforced and by then it was probably too late.