Liverpool: Full Report Card for Every Position for November

It was a hugely disappointing, deflating month for Brendan Rodgers' Liverpool side, who struggled to find form or consistency in both the Premier League and the Champions League throughout November.

Losses against Newcastle United, Real Madrid, Chelsea and Crystal Palace were followed by a draw away to PFC Ludogorets Razgrad and a 1-0 victory over Mark Hughes' Stoke City at the end of the month.

Amazingly, the Reds scored just five goals in six games in November while conceding nine. Rodgers is sorely missing the efforts of star striker Daniel Sturridge, who was ruled out through injury once again.

But how did each Liverpool player perform individually?

Each player is graded for their performances over the month, with subjective considerations for goals scored, assists, contributions to clean sheets, overall performances and impact involved. Within their respective positions, each player is ranked from best to worst.

Here is our report card for every position for Liverpool for November.

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Goalkeeper

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Simon Mignolet

It was a miserable month for Mignolet—he was under regular criticism and looked bereft of confidence.

This culminated in a dreadful error two minutes into Liverpool's 2-2 away Champions League draw with PFC Ludogorets Razgrad, which gifted Dani Abalo the side's opening goal.

However, Mignolet responded with a solid performance in the 1-0 Premier League win over Stoke City—this was the 26-year-old's second excellent performance of month, after a valiant display away to Real Madrid, but Liverpool's No. 22 must find a higher level of consistency.

Grade: C-

Right-Backs

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Javier Manquillo

Having made three appearances for the Reds across November, on-loan right-back Manquillo has continued his impressive, consistent form for Rodgers' side when selected.

As a defensive prospect, the 20-year-old has offered a stable presence in a shaky Liverpool back line, and more often than not when pushing forward, he has provided an attacking outlet on the right flank.

However, as a disappointing cross-cum-shot away to Crystal Palace highlights, Manquillo has work to do on his end product.

Grade: B-

Glen Johnson

A brave winning header to seal all three points against Stoke has gone a fair way to mask the ridiculous deficiencies in Johnson's game not only at Anfield at the end of the month, but throughout November.

Lethargic and inconsistent, it is a wonder why Johnson is regularly selected over either Manquillo or Alberto Moreno at right- or left-back.

With AS Roma reportedly interested in a free transfer for the England defender, per The Telegraph's Matt Law and Chris Bascombe, and with only "minor talks at the end of last season" to show for contract developments, Johnson's Liverpool career may soon be over.

Grade: D

Left-Backs

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Alberto Moreno

Moreno started each of Liverpool's first three encounters in November and was introduced as a late replacement for Raheem Sterling as the Reds looked to hold on to their lead away to Ludogorets.

Confident in the attack and underrated in terms of defensive duties, Moreno is Liverpool's best left-back.

Mysteriously, Moreno has had to make do with forming part of Rodgers' well-documented £87 million substitutes bench of late. On performance-based merit, Moreno deserves a starting role.

Grade: C

Jose Enrique

Enrique made just one appearance for Liverpool in November, in the 1-0 victory over Stoke.

The former Newcastle United man did little to damage his reputation at Anfield but remained largely anonymous throughout.

Grade: C-

Centre-Backs

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Kolo Toure

Toure was a revelation for Rodgers throughout November and has become Liverpool's leader at the back after three impressive performances marshalling the line.

Brought in against Madrid at the Bernabeu, Toure proved his credentials by—largely—keeping the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema quiet. However, the Ivorian was dropped in favour of Dejan Lovren for the side's next two Premier League fixtures.

Returning against Ludogorets and then in place of Lovren against Stoke, Toure has consistently performed.

Grade: B

Martin Skrtel

Skrtel was one of few Liverpool players to have started every game throughout November and is arguably Rodgers' first choice at centre-back.

Alongside Lovren, Skrtel was calamitous and brash, with a miserable performance marking Dwight Gayle in the loss to Palace as evidence. The introduction of Toure did improve his fortunes, though.

However, as a listless performance alongside Toure against Madrid showed—where Ronaldo regularly escaped the attentions of the Slovak—Skrtel is far from a solid, all-round defensive prospect.

Grade: C-

Dejan Lovren

Lovren's Merseyside nightmare continued in November, contributing to Premier League losses against Newcastle, Palace and Chelsea, and the Croatian has seemingly now lost his place to a 33-year-old Toure.

Shot of confidence and physically disjointed, Lovren faces a fight to reclaim his starting role under Rodgers.

Grade: D

Central Midfielders

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Joe Allen

A divisive figure amongst Liverpool supporters, Allen proved his credentials on Merseyside throughout November.

Starting all but one game, Allen has been deployed by Rodgers to ensure a level of tenacity in the centre of midfield, with the likes of Steven Gerrard and Lucas Leiva switching roles to suit the challenge posed by the opposition.

Standout performances against Palace and Stoke, with the latter only tarnished by a glaring miss at 0-0, underlined Allen's growing importance at Liverpool.

Grade: B+

Lucas Leiva

Like Toure ahead of him, Lucas is another peripheral figure who fought his way into the Liverpool first-team picture by virtue of the poor performances of his teammates.

Solid alongside Allen against both Madrid and Ludogorets, it was Lucas' outstanding performance shielding the back line in the win over Stoke that has seen his stock rise.

After recently telling reporters he is "committed to the cause," Lucas is the type of player Rodgers is rightly looking to depend on as his side struggle for form and stability.

Grade: B+

Emre Can

Can, like Moreno and Manquillo, suffered from Rodgers' favouring of "quality and experience" (per the Liverpool Echo's Ian Doyle) during Liverpool's miserable November run, making just two starts and a further substitute appearance.

However, the £10 million man performed exceptionally when selected, with a confident role in the loss at Madrid and the opening goal in Chelsea's 2-1 victory at Anfield.

Rodgers needs to trust Can more in order for the midfielder to establish himself.

Grade: B

Jordan Henderson

Henderson has endured a rare dip in form of late, with listless performances against the likes of Newcastle and Chelsea suggesting the midfielder required the rest a bout of illness afforded him against Palace.

However, the vice-captain has since returned with a pair of impressive displays against Ludogorets and Stoke, with a finely-taken finish putting Liverpool 2-1 up in the former and an inch-perfect cross playing a large part in Johnson's winner in the latter.

He is one of many players who benefited from a rest during a torrid November.

Grade: B

Steven Gerrard

Twice Gerrard's exclusion made headlines in November, with Rodgers opting to rest his captain against both Madrid and Stoke. The latter even forced the midfielder to deny a rift between the two, per Reuters (h/t The Guardian).

On both occasions, Gerrard's omission was warranted, as the 34-year-old struggled to cope with fatigue and the demands of a congested fixture list.

Rodgers' recent comments on a new contract offer for the midfielder on the "need to manage [Gerrard's playing time] and think how it can be most effective" point towards a more effective rotational role in the future.

Grade: C

Attacking Midfielders

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Raheem Sterling

Sterling, like Henderson, began to look jaded at the beginning of November, with the 19-year-old being one of Rodgers' key figures this season despite his young years.

On the bench for the loss against Madrid, a short spell away from the starting line-up has seen Sterling rejuvenated. The forward was one of Liverpool's best players across the games against Palace, Ludogorets and Stoke.

Particularly in the latter, Sterling flourished when moved into a more central role—a factor in his struggles last month was being regularly deployed in a wide role.

Grade: B

Philippe Coutinho

Coutinho is enduring a struggle for consistency in 2014/15, and November was much the same for the young No. 10.

Dropped against Madrid and Ludogorets, Coutinho did return to provide Liverpool a creative spark in the victory over Stoke. He inspired the move of the game at Anfield in Allen's miss, and it is this ingenuity that could be key to Liverpool's fortunes in December.

Grade: B-

Adam Lallana

Lallana made just two appearances for the Reds throughout November, with his fitness arguably underlining a regular spot on Rodgers' star-studded bench.

However, the England midfielder was impressive when called upon, such as in his movement against Madrid and his defensive work in tandem with Johnson against Palace.

Weighed down somewhat by his £25 million transfer fee, Lallana suits a rotational role.

Grade: C

Lazar Markovic

Markovic featured just once for the Reds in November, and while initially causing problems for Madrid's defenders in the Champions League, his absence since has surely stemmed from a lack of physicality and tactical nous compared to his colleagues in attacking midfield.

The 20-year-old is understandably struggling in his early months on Merseyside.

Grade: D

Strikers

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Rickie Lambert

Following the trajectory of Toure and Lucas, Lambert has shown his commitment to the cause, as well as the benefits of regular playing time, with a trio of outstanding starting performances for the Reds towards the end of November.

Early goals against both Palace and Ludogorets saw the England striker grow in confidence, and perseverance saw a late header rebound into Johnson's path to secure victory over Stoke.

Excelling in the absence of Sturridge and Mario Balotelli, Rodgers will find it hard to justify reintroducing the latter on Lambert's form.

Grade: B+

Mario Balotelli

Balotelli made just two appearances for Liverpool in November before suffering a hamstring injury on international duty with Italy.

The striker's inclusion in Antonio Conte's squad was a surprise either way after a series of deflated performances for the Merseyside outfit.

Away to Newcastle, Balotelli toiled away once more with little end product. He was also largely ineffective against Chelsea.

Grade: C

Fabio Borini

Making one start—against Madrid—and a further three substitute appearances in November, Borini showed plenty of effort but little quality.

A determined charge, Borini's performances are commendable in that sense, but the Italian must offer a lot more to warrant an extended spell in a Liverpool shirt.

Grade: C

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