Grading Liverpool Players on Their Champions League Performances vs. Ludogorets
Liverpool returned to the UEFA Champions League after a five-year absence on Tuesday night, with great expectations abound.
Welcoming Bulgarian champions PFC Ludogorets Razgrad to Anfield for the opening encounter of Group B, with the Reds resounding favourites in the pre-match build-up.
A spirited performance by Georgi Dermendzhiev’s side, however, saw Liverpool tested to the limit, with an injury-time equaliser from Dani Abalo cancelling out Mario Balotelli's opener, before Reds captain Steven Gerrard sealed the three points after Javier Manquillo was fouled in the penalty area.
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers will have been encouraged by some areas of his starting line-up, which featured five summer signings in Manquillo, Balotelli, Alberto Moreno, Dejan Lovren and Adam Lallana.
However, with this ostensibly the side's easiest game of the group stage, there is much work to be done.
Here are our grades for each Liverpool player based on their Champions League performances vs. Ludogorets.
Goalkeeper: Simon Mignolet
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Grade: B-
Despite a fairly quiet night for Belgian goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, question marks still remain over the long-term future of Rodgers' current No. 1.
This is namely due to a lack of authority in the 18-yard box, with scant communication with the rest of the defence and a lack of confidence when it comes to claiming loose balls—the main factors in this.
The former Sunderland man won't have done himself any favours by making a hash of his challenge in the build-up to Dani Abalo's equaliser.
Right-Back: Javier Manquillo
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Grade: A-
Perhaps the most consistent signing of the summer for Liverpool on current form, Spanish full-back Javier Manquillo had another night to remember for the Reds.
Typically capable in defence, it was the 20-year-old's attacking forays that stood out against Ludogorets—a side of the defender's game somewhat subdued until Tuesday night.
Manquillo provided inch-perfect crosses from the right flank, almost putting the Reds ahead with a prodded effort that eluded Milan Borjan and his crossbar, and eventually won the winning penalty with an adacious forward charge.
Left-Back: Alberto Moreno
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Grade: A-
Like Manquillo, former Sevilla man Alberto Moreno has been one of the buys of the summer, as far as Rodgers' acquisitions are concerned.
A sensational solo goal against Spurs has gone some way to exonerate the young full-back from a costly mistake against Manchester City; ever since, Moreno has gone from strength to strength.
Eager in the attack and adroit in the defence, Moreno provided the cross for Balotelli's opener, having thwarted a surefire goal for Ludogorets' Marcelinho at the other end of the pitch moments before with an excellent sliding challenge.
Centre-Back: Dejan Lovren
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Grade: C+
Croatian centre-back Dejan Lovren, like Mignolet, can be held accountable for Abalo's stoppage-time equaliser, and this punctuated a poor night for the new Liverpool signing.
Partnering Mamadou Sakho once more at the heart of defence, Lovren is looking less and less like the born leader the Reds were perceived to have signed in a £20 million deal from Southampton in the summer.
Despite claiming, per the Liverpool Echo, that a "language barrier" is part of the problem with the Liverpool defence, with Manquillo and Moreno less than fluent in English, it is alarmingly apparently that the Reds concede more often than not due to the poor judgment of Lovren—the linguistic master in their midst.
Centre-Back: Mamadou Sakho
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Grade: B-
Many Liverpool fans believe last summer's big-money defensive signing Mamadou Sakho is the future of Rodgers' back four, with a brutal quality in the challenge and a deceptive finesse in possession.
Paired with Lovren so far this season, the former PSG man has been forced to bail out his elder on several occasions, with a superior pace and aggression aiding Sakho in this task—Tuesday night was no different.
However, against Ludogorets the Frenchman suffered his fair share of lapses in concentration and will need to focus if he is to nail down a regular starting spot in Rodgers' defence for the long term.
Centre-Midfielder: Steven Gerrard
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Grade: A-
Returning to the most celebrated stage of his career, Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard will have savoured his side's Champions League comeback more than most, and it took a decisive penalty from the Englishman to seal the three points.
Prior to this, Gerrard had performed with the frenetic vigour so typical of his game, prowling the space in front of his back four with menace and vitality.
Talking to ITV Sport in his post-match interview, the 34-year-old claimed Liverpool "need to do better," and Rodgers' side will need to rely on their captain's European pedigree if they are to do so in the Champions League.
Centre-Midfielder: Jordan Henderson
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Grade: A-
One day after being announced as Liverpool's new vice-captain, English midfielder Jordan Henderson partnered Gerrard in the centre of midfield in his debut Champions League encounter.
Carl Markham of the Press Association (via the Daily Mail) reports that, after the game, the 24-year-old felt performing amongst Europe's elite "...is a little bit different...but you just have to adapt as best you can."
Any signs of adaptation were minimal when it came to the former Sunderland man, who produced a typically energetic display of the most remarkable consistency, winning tackles, pressing the opposition and turning over possession intelligently.
Centre-Midfielder: Philippe Coutinho
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Grade: D
Joining Gerrard and Henderson in the midfield three was Brazilian playmaker Philippe Coutinho, who has struggled to impose himself so far this season.
Against Ludogorets the same accusations can be levelled, with the young midfielder offering another lifeless display in the area between the midfield base and the attack.
Supposedly the Reds' central creative outlet, Coutinho was anonymous throughout, with a gulf appearing behind Balotelli—in the past two games the Liverpool front line has been starved of openings, and this is partly due to the incognito Brazilian.
Right Wing: Adam Lallana
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Grade: B-
Making only his second appearance for the Reds since a £25 million summer move, English midfielder Adam Lallana continues to struggle for full fitness.
Operating on the right-hand side of the forward line, the former Southampton man did find himself in some promising positions, but he failed to find the net after good work by Balotelli on both sides of half-time.
The 26-year-old is developing a strong understanding with the Italian, however, and it will be only a matter of time before Lallana finds his form.
Left Wing: Raheem Sterling
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Grade: B
Lauded by all and sundry as Liverpool's most important player after a remarkable rise in form since the turn of the year, teenage forward Raheem Sterling had a quiet night against Ludogorets.
Making a Champions League debut, Sterling featured on the left wing, supporting lone striker Balotelli.
The 19-year-old failed to make a true impression, however, although a switch to Rodgers' celebrated 4-4-2, midfield diamond formation allowed the player more opportunity to influence proceedings.
Centre-Forward: Mario Balotelli
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Grade: B+
In the absence of injured star striker Daniel Sturridge, big-money summer signing Mario Balotelli is tasked with leading the Liverpool line, and he did so effectively against Ludogorets.
Whilst drawn into deeper positions than expected due to the mediocre Coutinho, Balotelli defended well from the front foot, combined with Rodgers' forward line intelligently and worked tirelessly in challenging the Ludogorets defence.
It took Balotelli 82 minutes to finally show his true cutting edge, however, by breaking the deadlock with a clever finish beyond the sprawling Borjan.
It was a promising performance, although support will be required if Balotelli is to truly succeed.
Substitutes
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Lucas Leiva (67')
Replacing the ineffective Coutinho as the game entered its latter stages, Brazilian midfielder Lucas offered Rodgers' diamond formation its right-sided presence, and he performed ably.
The 27-year-old has come under fire of late but served to dampen these flames with a steady performance.
Grade: B
Fabio Borini (67')
Digging his heels in on transfer-deadline day by rejecting moves to QPR and Sunderland, Italian striker Borini faces a tough battle to win a regular place in Rodgers' side.
Replacing Lallana, however, this substitute appearance is now Borini's second in two games, and some intelligent runs helped stretch the game in Liverpool's favour.
Grade: B
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