Liverpool player ratings v City with Man of the Match James Milner 9 and injured Mohamed Salah only 7

Alex Broun 01:46 05/04/2018
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  • James Milner was everywhere in the first half

    Manchester City dominated the first ten minutes but the next twenty belonged to Liverpool as they went 3-0 up on 31 minutes – and held on for a famous victory in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals.

    City were off-color most of the night with their usual precision in attack sadly a miss. So poor were they, the Cityzens did not register a single shot on goal all night. Flabbergasting from the team who has scored 85 goals in the Premier League this season.

    Liverpool took their chances superbly and with Man of the Match James Milner breaking up attack after attack, as well as playing a big part in all three goals, the Reds were deserved winners and now take a defendable lead to the Etihad.

    Here are our playing ratings.

    Lorus Karius – 7: Very little to do before half time and just a little more in the second half. Handled what he needed to handle comfortably.

    Andy Robertson – 7: Surging runs down the left kept Kyle Walker busy in the first stanza. Given a bigger test by Sterling after the break.

    Virgil van Dijk – 7: Still exerting a cool head in the middle of the Reds defence but some slack passes early in second half put his side under needless pressure.

    Dejan Lovren – 7: A relatively assured performance without the usual blooper Reds fans have become used to. Surprisingly untested by a tame city attack.

    Trent Alexander-Arnold – 8: Over-shadowed Sane in the first half and won some good challenges in the second. Came up with some key intercepts after the break.

    Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – 7: A stunning strike to put the Reds 2-0 up and some nice touches in the first half. Not so prominent after the break.

    James Milner – 9: Played a huge part in all three first half goals and was everywhere in the first half. Faded a little in the second half but still a worthy Man of the Match

    Jordan Henderson – 8: Worked hard in the first half and kept it up in the second period working hard in defence and winning some key challenges.

    Sadio Mane – 8: Drifted in the first half before popping up for the third goal, worked hard in the second half as he played out the full 90.

    Robert Firmino – 7: Showed superb balance to set up Salah’s opener and worked hard all night. Surprisingly removed on 70 minutes for Dominic Solanke

    Mohamed Salah – 7: Not at his completely dominant best but took the first goal well. Replaced on 55 minutes taking much of the sting out of the Reds attack.

    Subs

    Georginio Wijnaldum – 6: Came on early in second half and made a positive impact.

    Dominic Solanke – 5: Brought on by Klopp to be a target man for last twenty minutes. Put in a shift.

    Alberto Moreno- NA: Very late sub, didn’t make any mistakes.

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