Liverpool beat Burnley 4-2 at Anfield on Sunday to go back within a point of Man City at the top of the Premier League.
Doubles from Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino delivered the points for the Reds, while Ashley Westwood and Johann Berg Gudmundsson strikes for Burnley kept Jurgen Klopp’s side looking nervous to the last.
Here are the full player ratings from Sunday afternoon.
Liverpool
Alisson – 5 – Was fouled for Burnley’s first goal, although he seemed more interested in proving that rather than trying to win the ball. His distribution was generally excellent, while he failed to keep out Burnley’s second, despite getting a hand to it.
(Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Trent Alexander-Arnold – 7 – Initally struggled to get his crosses beyond the first man, but improved as the game went on. His delivery for Mane’s miss in the second half was a blinder, while the 20-year-old made two tackles as he helped snuff Burnley out.
Joel Matip – 4 – Far less convincing than Van Dijk, again. Needlessly headed the ball out for a corner in the build-up to Burnley’s first goal, while he was well out of position for their second. Tackled well in parts a mistake seems moments away at all times.
Virgil van Dijk – 9 – Won all seven of his aerial duels, making it 18 out of his last 18 at home dating all the way back to January 30th. An imperious performance where he was nowhere near fault for Burnley’s first, and left stranded by his defensive partners for their second.
Virgil van Dijk has now won each of the last 18 aerials he has contested at home in the Premier League; he has not lost one at home since January.
Anfield is his, even the airspace.
pic.twitter.com/Xw0rA4L9mh
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) March 10, 2019
Georginio Wijnaldum – 6 – A quiet day at the office for Georginio Wijnaldum, whose main contribution was heading wide from a brilliant Robertson cross when he probably should have left it for Sadio Mane. Was by no means poor, though, and was substituted on 68 minutes with Liverpool’s mid-week tie against Bayern Munich in mind.
Fabinho – 8 – Won four aerial duels and made two tackles, once again making him a solid platform in the Liverpool midfield, screening the back four brilliantly. Posted a match-high 89% pass completion rate.
Adam Lallana – 8 – A fantastic 76 minutes from Lallana, who really needed a positive display. The England international has had terrible luck with injuries in the last couple of seasons, so pull this kind of controlling display out the bag will delight Jurgen Klopp. His switch of play was vital for Liverpool’s equaliser, while he closed down Bardsley brilliantly for their second.
(Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Mohamed Salah – 7 – Didn’t get a goal and continued to look sluggish when given chances. Did, however, continue to provide a constant threat down Liverpool’s right with his pace and trickery.
Roberto Firmino – 9 – Hadn’t scored in six appearances across all competitions before this tie but gobbled up his two tap ins as if they would be his last. Firmino’s two goals will be a huge confidence boost to the Brazilian and were just reward for a lively, industrious display up front.
(Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Sadio Mane – 8 – Scored Liverpool’s second with a wonderful, curling effort but missed a sitter in the second half, hitting the bar from a matter of yards away. A constant threat for Liverpool and had Bardsley running scared for the full 90 minutes.
Subs
Jordan Henderson (68 mins for Wijnaldum) – 7 – Replaced Wijnaldum and provided security in midfield during his 20 minutes on the pitch, also filling in at right-back toward the end.
Naby Keita (76 mins for Lallana) – 7 – His injection of energy got Liverpool’s press going again, winning two tackles during his 15-minute cameo.
Daniel Sturridge – (86 mins for Alexander-Arnold) – 7 – Like Vydra for Burnley, was on the pitch for a matter of minutes but still managed an assist.
Subscribe to Squawka’s Youtube channel here.
Burnley
Tom Heaton – 2 – Totally missed Salah’s cross for Liverpool’s first, while his horrendous goal-kick in the second half landed straight at the feet of Salah, eventually coming to Firmino for another tap in to make it 3-1. An unusually erratic display from a usually excellent goalkeeper, signed and sealed when he was rounded by Mane for Liverpool’s fourth.
Phil Bardsley – 3 – How Phil Bardsley continues to be a Premier League full-back is quite the mystery. Far too slow trying to clear the ball on the edge of his own box, allowing Lallana to make a good challenge that led to Liverpool’s second goal, while he was nowhere to be seen for their fourth. Really struggled against the pace and industry of Mane all afternoon while his 63% pass completion left a lot to be desired.
James Tarkowski – 4 – Just as poor as Bardsley on the ball today, posting a pass completion of just 59%. Was involved in the defensive mix up for Liverpool’s equaliser, although it’s a little harsh to blame him considering Heaton’s flap and miss at Salah’s cut-back.
(Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Ben Mee – 6 – With five aerial duels and four tackles, Ben Mee actually had a decent afternoon at Anfield, despite his side leaking four goals. An underrated defender who was unlucky to be on the end of a beating here.
Charlie Taylor – 6 – Similar to Mee, Charlie Taylor looked far more solid than his teammate on the other side of the Burnley defence. Was desperately unlucky to see his last-ditch tackle on Salah end up with Mane for Liverpool’s second goal.
Jeff Hendrick – 4 – Completed just 43% of his passes before being hooked on 79 minutes. Offered very little for the Clarets going forward.
Ashley Westwood – 7 – His excellent delivery to score Burnley’s first goal was about as good as it got going forward for Westwood on Sunday, although he battled hard in midfield, making three tackles and winning two aerial duels.
(Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Jack Cork – 6 – Like Westwood, Cork had to spend more time battling for the ball rather than using it, making five tackles – more than any midfielder on the pitch.
Dwight McNeil – 7 – Made a match-high four dribbles and was Burnley’s most threatening player, although he didn’t have a great deal of help when he did get into dangerous positions.
Ashley Barnes – 7 – Battled really hard up top for Sean Dyche, winning six aerial duels and, at times, seriously unsettling Matip at centre-back. Was largely starved of service as Burnley were pushed back.
Chris Wood – 5 – Tried to stay close to Barnes for the knock-downs but was pretty much snuffed out by Matip and, more so, Van Dijk. Not as effective as he has been in recent weeks.
Subs
Peter Crouch (79 mins for Wood) – 6 – Brought on to a good reception from the Anfield crowd but didn’t influence the game.
Johann Berg Gudmundsson (79 mins for Hendrick) – 7 – His late goal looked to have given Burnley a glimmer of hope, before it was quickly snuffed out by Liverpool’s fourth.
Matej Vydra (86 mins for Barnes) 7 – Only on the pitch for a few minutes but made his presence felt with an assist for Burnley’s second.
The post Liverpool 4-2 Burnley: Every player rated as Van Dijk produces flawless aerial display appeared first on Squawka News.
From Squawka News https://ift.tt/2TqwxEb
No comments:
Post a Comment