Liverpool vs. Udinese: Complete Player Ratings for the Reds in Europa League

Liverpool suffered their first defeat in Europe this season as they lost 3-2 to Udinese at Anfield, having let a half time one-goal advantage slip.

Brendan Rodgers named a somewhat stronger side than usual in the Europa League, with first-team regulars Pepe Reina, Joe Allen, Fabio Borini and Glen Johnson all involved from the start and Steven Gerrard and Luis Suarez amongst the substitutes.

Liverpool dominated much of the first half and Jonjo Shelvey deservedly put the Reds ahead, but Antonio Di Natale's equaliser less than a minute after the break put the brakes on a dominant display.

Two quickfire goals midway through the half put Udinese 3-1 up as Seb Coates headed an own goal and Gio Pasquale smashed in a third, before Suarez's sublime free kick pulled one back.

It wasn't enough for the Reds and they will need to take points from the upcoming double-header with Anzhi to have a good chance of progressing.

Here are the player ratings for Liverpool.

Goalkeeper: Pepe Reina

Kept in goal ahead of Brad Jones, Pepe Reina would have been hoping for another Anfield clean sheet, and first since the Gomel tie, but saw those hopes disappear in the second half.

To be fair to Reina there was nothing he could have done about any of the three strikes conceded and in the first half he kept Liverpool level with a terrific low save down to his right.

Reina's distribution was good all night and will be looking to keep up his recent better form against Stoke at the weekend.

Pepe Reina: 7/10

Full-Backs: Glen Johnson and Jack Robinson

Glen Johnson switched to his more natural right-sided role against Udinese, with Jack Robinson coming into the side in place of Andre Wisdom.

Robinson had a good game on the left; he was strong and dogged in defence and even when his opposite number did get past him initially—as happened on a few occasions in the second half—he was tenacious enough to make up ground and win back the ball.

Not until later in the game did Liverpool see the benefits of his natural attacking instinct but Robinson can count himself pleased with another promising performance.

Johnson was largely solid down the right, linking up well with Stewart Downing and driving into space from deep.

He had good opportunities to cross several times but didn't quite make the most of them.

Most annoyingly, a lack of control early in the second half led directly to the Udinese equaliser as Liverpool were yet again punished for losing possession cheaply.

Glen Johnson: 6/10

Jack Robinson: 7/10

Central Defence: Sebastian Coates and Jamie Carragher

Sebastian Coates made it two goals in two Europa League group stage matches; unfortunately his goal against Udinese came at the wrong end.

For most of the game Coates was immense; he bested Di Natale on more than one occasion in a one-on-one situation and was superb on the ball. A slight threat in the first half from attacking set pieces too, Coates again gave the impression he could make a big push for a first-team spot this season.

However, he got himself in an awful muddle in the 70th minute—finding himself attacking the ball too low and facing his own goal—culminating in heading past Pepe Reina.

Jamie Carragher was less involved defensively than would be normally expected, given that the defence had to make several late clearances and blocks in the second half.

Very much Liverpool's fourth-choice centre back these days, Carragher never got to grips with the attackers coming infield off the left flank and allowed Di Natale far too much time on the ball for the third goal.

Sebastian Coates: 8/10, man of the match

Jamie Carragher: 6/10

Central Midfielders: Joe Allen, Jordan Henderson and Jonjo Shelvey

Perhaps Joe Allen's poorest on-the-ball performance in a Liverpool shirt to date, the Welsh midfielder was unusually lax in possession too often and, aside from a couple of slaloming runs, did not manage to contribute too much to the build-up passages of play.

He will certainly be an important component for the Reds at the weekend against Stoke so Rodgers will be hoping his main midfielder's energy levels are not too depleted following this match.

Jordan Henderson put in a very good performance and was maybe unlucky to be substituted after 65 minutes.

Henderson was quick and aggressive in possession and tried to press the Udinese midfield at every opportunity. He will get more chances to impress and, despite not having the best of starts to the season in terms of starting league games, should continue working hard to become an important part of the squad.

Shelvey scored Liverpool's first goal in a move which showcased his best talents; picking up the ball deep in midfield, he sent a fine pass out wide before making up ground in the penalty area and heading home the resulting cross.

Despite several other attempted shots from range and playing the full 90 minutes, Shelvey's other main contribution was clearing a Luis Suarez volley off the Udinese goal line.

Joe Allen: 6/10

Jordan Henderson: 7/10

Jonjo Shelvey: 7/10

Forwards: Stewart Downing, Fabio Borini and Oussama Assaidi

Stewart Downing came into the game on the back of a stern challenge from his manager to up his game, and the England winger certainly showed the desire needed to win back his place in the team—and, for once, no shortage of end product or talent.

It was Downing who sent over the cross for Shelvey's opening goal but he was a threat all night in the final third, cutting in from the right flank to shoot with his left foot or else going down the outside to try a cross.

He also tracked back extremely well and put a real shift in; great to see, but if Downing is to have a decent Liverpool career, it will be needed every day in training and every time he comes on as sub for 15 minutes, not just for one Europa League match.

On the opposite side, Oussama Assaidi showed a few neat early runs and dribbles but ultimately only managed to trouble the defence once, shooting wide of target early on in the game. He faded after the break and was replaced after a little more than an hour.

Centrally, Fabio Borini didn't score a goal but was excellent with his movement and work rate. He drew two defenders away for Shelvey's goal and made countless runs behind the three centre backs—occupying them far more than a lone centre forward might have been expected to do.

Borini came off near the end but he had a good game and might have been a bit unlucky not to have a better chance or two fall his way.

Stewart Downing: 8/10

Fabio Borini: 7/10

Oussama Assaidi: 6/10

Substitutes: Luis Suarez, Steven Gerrard and Raheem Sterling

Luis Suarez made a very lively 25-minute appearance for the Reds, curling in a brilliant free kick—his second of the season—and making a real nuisance of himself in the penalty area.

Two shots were blocked at close quarters and Suarez came close to nicking an equaliser with his header which was well smothered by Brkic the goalkeeper.

Ultimately the continuation of Suarez's goalscoring form, taking him to seven goals in all competitions this season, might be the most important positive for Liverpool to take out of the game.

Steven Gerrard certainly brought energy and optimism to the Reds midfield when he came on, but unfortunately he rather detracted from the continual possession the team was trying to regain.

One errant pass eventually led to another Udinese goal and he was unable to make amends at the other end.

Raheem Sterling went closest to an equaliser for the Reds after Suarez's header, with a curling shot which just cleared the crossbar—but he had very little time to make an impact.

Luis Suarez: 8/10

Steven Gerrard: 6/10

Raheem Sterling: n/a

Unused substitutes: Brad Jones, Andre Wisdom, Martin Skrtel, Nuri Sahin.

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