The Reds fight back to secure a point against Villa…
Liverpool player ratings
- 22 Simon Mignolet – 5
Tried to punch the cross that led to Villa’s second, but missed, leaving Benteke with an open goal. The Belgian also looked shaky when Aston Villa played long balls into the box.
- 02 Glen Johnson – 6
Didn’t do anything defensively wrong, but rarely got forward to help Raheem Sterling, Liverpool’s best player on the day.
- 37 Martin Skrtel – 7
Solid, and made a number of important tackles. His distribution was impressive too, although when he plays alongside Kolo Toure at the back, the Reds ship goals.
- 04 Kolo Toure – 4
The sooner Mamadou Sakho or Daniel Agger return from injury, the better. Toure couldn’t handle Benteke’s physicality, and looked clumsy and non-decisive in possession.
- 20 Aly Cissokho – 4
Really terrible afternoon from the Frenchman. Was woeful in possession, and embarrassingly blazed the ball into Row Z when presented with a guilt-edged chance.
- 08 Steven Gerrard – 6
A true game of two halves for Gerrard. While he was the worst player on the pitch in the first half, he was probably the best player on the pitch in the second. Slotted his penalty away as calmly as ever, too.
- 14 Jordan Henderson – 6
Was his typical combative self, but badly needed the added protection of a third central midfielder alongside him. Pairing Henderson with Gerrard as part of a midfield two did not work at all in the first half.
- 31 Raheem Sterling – 8
Liverpool’s best player by a mile. The teenager consistently looked to make things happen, and regularly beat Villa’s debutant left-back Ryan Bertrand.
- 10 Coutinho (Lucas – 45′ ) – 5
The Brazilian was withdrawn at half-time, and really – Rodgers should have started Lucas of Joe Allen ahead of him. He couldn’t get on the ball, as Liverpool’s midfield was being consistently overrun.
- 07 Luis Suárez – 6
Constantly tried to make things happen, but it just wouldn’t run for him today. He won a penalty with a dive, and nearly sealed the three points with a scintillating freekick late on.
- 15 Daniel Sturridge – 7
Nice goal by the Englishman, who linked up play well with the other players around him. He was probably guilty of not shooting enough on goal, however.
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