A young Liverpool FC side was held to a 1-1 draw by French side Bordeaux in the UEFA Europa League. We rate the performances of the Reds’ players with Mamadou Sakho returning to the side with a fine man of the match performance.
Simon Mignolet 7
The Goalkeeper had a solid game without pulling off world class saves. Could do nothing about the Bordeaux equalizer, but pulled off a couple of good saves towards the end of the game with Bordeaux pushing forward for an equalizer.
Joe Gomez 6
Gomez is just 18 and understandably, the defender looked a bit shaky at times after being drafted in a familiar central defensive role on the right-hand side, before moving in the centre after Toure went off, of the three man defence.
Allowed the Bordeaux attacker to juggle the ball far too long in the Liverpool box that eventually led to panic in the box and eventually Can’s inability to clear cost Reds three points.
Kolo Toure 6
Toure’s evening came to an early halt after he limped off injured after a clash with Mignolet. Starting his first game of the season, the Ivorian looked shaky at times, and picked up a yellow card for his troubles.
Mamadou Sakho 8
‘Mama’, as he is affectionately known to Liverpool FC fraternity, put in an excellent display that once again raised questions about why he had been controversially overlooked over the last month for Martin Skrtel or Dejan Lovren.
Having been handed the captain’s armband, Sakho showed that he has the ability to be the leader in the defence, something Liverpool have sorely missed. He hardly put a foot wrong and surely will be playing at the weekend ahead of Lovren or Skrtel who have both made costly errors over the last two games.
Alberto Moreno 6
Without doing much, Moreno had a solid game in his preferred wing-back positions. The defender was solid at the back and showed his ability to attack with a cunning through ball for Origi in the first half, who was offside. He also hit a clean strike from 25 yards out that tested the goalkeeper. However, as always, had little support for one-two and his limitation in crossing a ball meant he could not threaten much.
Jordon Ibe 5
The Red shirt is weighing very heavy on Jordon Ibe’s shoulders. It is as if the humble youngster is trying too hard to succeed. His confidence is clearly shot having started the season in the first team and then being dropped to a fringe role. With self doubt creeping in having failed to score a single goal for the Reds, Ibe appears to be too predictable and his ability to go past players that lit up Anfield towards the end of last season seems to have taken a back seat. It is as if someone had put on weight on his jet heels.
Ibe badly needs a goal to get his confidence back.
Emre Can 5
I had earlier written how Emre Can’s versatility is his curse. It revered it’s ugly head again, yesterday as the player started out in midfield and then ended up at the right side of a three man defence after Kolo Toure went off injured. The man of many talents seems to specialize in nothing as his tepid attacking display over the past few games has shown. His defensive ability was exposed again last night, when on more than once occasion he was found out positionally. A bit unlucky, but, the Bordeaux goal also came when Can failed to clear the ball and it was slammed in the roof on Simon Mignolet’s net.
Jordan Rossiter 7
A night to remember from Rossiter who put in a solid display in the heart of Liverpool FC midfield. The academy graduate showed fine technique when he hit a volley at the Bordeaux goalkeeper. Showed his vision when he put the ball in space for Jordon Ibe to chase, who simply was not expecting the ball.
Adam Lallana 7
Lallana had expressed his frustration on being unable to help his team mates out during his lean patch due to the injury. Having been handed a start by Rodgers on his return, the midfielder was understandably shaky at the start but grew on in the game as it went on. Scored a quite sublime solo goal when he nutmegged the Bordeaux defender on the left-hand side of the box before coolly placing the ball in the bottom left-hand corner of the Bordeaux goalkeeper who stood no chance to save it. His one-twos with Coutinho late on was very encouraging and showed what Liverpool FC can expect from him when fit and on form.
Phillipe Coutinho 6
Having returned from suspension, Coutinho had a decent game. Occasional erratic passing aside, which is a common occurrence in his game, the Brazil star linked up well with Adam Lallana as the game progressed. A characteristic thunderbolt hit the post after wasting a good early opportunity when he had dragged his shot wide.
Divock Origi 5
Origi was feeding off scarps in the game and hence, had a very quite game. Not the right game to pass judgement on him, yet, but, movement can improve.
Danny Ings 6
Almost scored a stunning goal when he controlled a ball in the air and tried to place it in the corner of the Bordeaux goal but failed to deceive the goalkeeper. Needed to give him the eye, probably and will improve.
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Pedro Chirivella 6
The 18 year old came on for the injured Kolo Toure in the 28th minute. A nervy beginning was put aside by the midfield play maker to put in a solid performance.
Cameron Brannagan NA
The youngster came on for Jordan Rossiter in the 80th minute to make his first appearance for the club in a night to remember. Too little time on the pitch to rate his performance.