Tracking Liverpool Player Performance in World Cup Group Stage
Liverpool have 11 players taking part of the 2014 FIFA World Cup—12 if you include new signing Rickie Lambert.
England have defender Glen Johnson, midfielders Steven Gerrard and Jordan Henderson, and attackers Raheem Sterling and Daniel Sturridge.
Another two Liverpool players are also in Group D: Sebastian Coates and Luis Suarez with Uruguay.
Mamadaou Sakho is a key player for France and Kolo Toure is similarly for Ivory Coast in defence.
There's also Pepe Reina, still officially a Liverpool player after his season loan at Napoli, with Spain, and fellow goalkeeper Simon Mignolet with Belgium—both are expected to be back-ups only for their respective countries.
Here, we track the performances of Liverpool players during the World Cup group stages.
Updated on June 25th.
Kolo Toure (Ivory Coast)
1 of 8
Greece 2-1 Ivory Coast
Minutes Played: 90
Tackles: 3
Shots: 0
Pass %: 85
After being an unused sub in their first two games, Toure started Ivory Coast's final group game against Greece. Given the personal circumstances following his brother's death days before, Toure did well. A credit to his family.
Rating: 7
Daniel Sturridge (England)
2 of 8
Costa Rica 0-0 England
Minutes Played: 90
Tackles: -
Shots: 4
Pass %: 63
Missed some good chances, three in particular. Chances that you'd have expected him to score, and that he was scoring for Liverpool last season.
Rating: 6
England 1-2 Uruguay
Minutes Played: 90
Tackles: -
Shots: 5
Pass %: 73
Not great, but not terrible. It was an inconsistent night for Sturridge, whose shots often lacked power or precision. His hold up play was excellent, as demonstrated for England's goal.
Rating: 6
England 1-2 Italy
Minutes Played: 90
Tackles: 0
Shots: 3
Pass %: 86
Goals: 1
Sturridge was impressive up front for England and took his goal well. His movement to get into the box to superbly control Wayne Rooney's cross from the left and side-foot past the keeper was harder than it looks. A very well taken goal.
He looked confident and sharp and will surely progress well into the tournament.
Rating: 7
Steven Gerrard (England)
3 of 8
Costa Rica 0-0 England
Minutes Played: 17
Tackles: -
Shots: -
Pass %: 70
A cameo appearance only for the skipper.
England 1-2 Uruguay
Minutes Played: 90
Tackles: 3
Shots: 1
Pass %: 76
A disappointing night for the captain, his passing was uncharacteristically poor, his set-piece delivery was similarly off-target and he looked jaded in midfield.
Again, his form though is perhaps mitigated by being in a flat midfield two alongside Jordan Henderson, rather than being played deeper with Henderson doing the running ahead of him, as he does for Liverpool. Tactically, the duo were exposed.
Rating: 5
England 1-2 Italy
Minutes Played: 90
Tackles: 3
Shots:1
Pass %: 93
The skipper had a solid showing in midfield—organising, and showing both good discipline tactically and his usual expert passing range.
Gerrard, 34, managed with the conditions of Manaus and will now look to exert his influence further in future games.
Rating: 7
Raheem Sterling (England)
4 of 8
Costa Rica 0-0 England
Minutes Played: 28
Tackles: -
Shots: 1
Pass %: 85
Another lively showing, dribbling at defenders in an energetic fashion that is becoming his trademark.
Rating: 6.5
England 1-2 Uruguay
Minutes Played: 64
Tackles: -
Shots: -
Pass %: 86
Shifted out wide, Sterling failed to make an impression. There seemed little game plan as to how to actually get the best from him. Five successful dribbles shows that had England got him in the game and running at Uruguay's defence more, he could have prospered.
Rating: 5
England 1-2 Italy
Minutes Played: 90
Tackles: 2
Shots: 4
Pass %: 91
A superb showing by the Liverpool teenager, especially impressive in the first half when played in a central role. He was less effective when somewhat bizarrely moved out to the right side.
His cramp in the final minutes showed how hard he had worked during the game, rather than a sign of poor fitness.
His opening minute dribble and shot that hit the side netting set the tone for a lively, threatening performance. Superb.
"Raheem Sterling completed 4 take-ons for England, the same number as the entire Italian side combined. #ENG #ITA pic.twitter.com/oanU0UOgnO
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) June 15, 2014"
Rating: 8
Pepe Reina (Spain)
5 of 8
Australia 0-3 Spain
Minutes Played: 90
Saves: 0
Pass %: 47
After three World Cups, Reina finally made his first appearance in Spain's dead rubber clash against Australia. The 31-year-old had little to do.
Rating: 6
Mamadou Sakho (France)
6 of 8
France 3-0 Honduras
Minutes Played: 90
Tackles: 0
Shots: 0
Pass %: 96
A very solid performance from the 24-year-old, whom manager Didier Deschamps has made his main man in defence. Assured passing, solid in the air, this was an easy game but one which Sakho strolled. A solid partnership with Raphael Varane looks like being a base from which Les Blues can impress in this tournament.
Rating: 7
Glen Johnson (England)
7 of 8
England 1-2 Uruguay
Minutes Played: 90
Tackles: 3
Shots: -
Pass %: 83
Another overall poor showing from Johnson, despite his assist for Wayne Rooney's goal. Restricted and exposed by Roy Hodgson's system, Johnson was similar to the form throughout 2013/14—inconsistent.
Rating: 5
England 1-2 Italy
Minutes Played: 90
Tackles: 3
Shots:2
Pass %: 90
Johnson played the full match but showed much the same form as he has for Liverpool over the last 12 months: disappointing.
He produced his now often-used move of cutting inside onto his left foot, only to drag his shot wide of the near post, something that has become a common feature of his game.
Rating: 5
Jordan Henderson (England)
8 of 8
England 1-2 Uruguay
Minutes Played: 87
Tackles: 2
Shots: 1
Pass %: 90
One of England's better players, Henderson looked far better when tactically the midfield shape changed to a diamond and he was able to press higher up the pitch. Something that he has done all season long with Liverpool.
Rating: 6
England 1-2 Italy
Minutes Played: 73
Tackles: 0
Shots:2
Pass %: 88
Having almost scored with a long-range effort early on, the Liverpool man had a solid showing in a deeper midfield role alongside his captain. Was replaced by Jack Wilshere, who went on to lose the ball more times than Henderson had in the 17 remaining minutes.
Rating: 6.5
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