DR: Emre Can – 7
Proactive, and repeatedly looked to join the attack, but this left spaces in behind and disrupted Liverpool’s defensive shape and resiliency. Some tackles were also noteworthy.
CB: Dejan Lovren – 7
Overcame his (many) critics to put in a strong performance against the league champions. Several key interventions suggest that improvement and consistency may be on the horizon.
CB: Martin Skrtel – 7
Good defensive organisation throughout, with one late block from Cesc Fabregas particularly deserving of praise.
DL: Glen Johnson – 6
Foraged forward in search of action, but struggled to actually influence proceedings despite seeing a lot of the ball. Competent defensively despite playing in an unfamiliar left-back role.