Ranking and Grading Liverpool's Players on Champions League Performances so Far
Liverpool's 2-2 away draw with PFC Ludogorets Razgrad on Wednesday night leaves Brendan Rodgers' side level on points with the Bulgarian side in Champions League Group B, behind leaders Real Madrid and Switzerland's FC Basel.
Needing a win at home to Basel at the beginning of December in order to qualify, the Reds are faltering so far in Europe's elite competition.
But how are Liverpool's players faring individually?
Our rankings are based subjectively on player performance, consistency and importance to the side in the Champions League, with our criteria including all 21 players to have made an appearance for Liverpool in this season's competition.
With each player receiving a grade for their performances, here are our rankings of Liverpool's players on their Champions League performances so far.
Statistics via WhoScored.com.
21. Lazar Markovic
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Like many, Lazar Markovic has struggled to impose himself on Rodgers' squad since his summer move, and this has continued in the Champions League.
Having made two starts and one further substitute's appearance so far, Markovic has failed to make an impressing when deployed as a wide player; his pace is a devastating attribute, but the 20-year-old is yet to match this with either tactical intelligence or defensive diligence.
Despite featuring for Benfica in the competition prior to his £20 million move to Merseyside, Markovic has looked at odds with the added demands of these European encounters.
Grade: D
20. Dejan Lovren
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Dejan Lovren's early woes post-transfer to Merseyside have continued in the Champions League, where the defender has looked to lack confidence and the pedigree to succeed at such a high level.
Lovren's ambition and desperation to succeed did see good starts at home to Ludogorets and Madrid, but these invariably lapsed into the error-strewn performances that have hallmarked his time at Liverpool.
Understandably, Lovren has been dropped in favour of Kolo Toure in the Reds' last two Champions League fixtures.
Grade: D
19. Simon Mignolet
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Mignolet's recent, embarrassing error in the 2-2 draw with Ludogorets compounded the Liverpool goalkeeper's poor form and lack of confidence of late.
Throughout the Champions League this season, Mignolet has performed to much the same, shaky level.
However, as with many others, the No. 22 pulled out a surprisingly adept performance away to Madrid in the Reds' valiant 1-0 loss.
In that game, Mignolet made some fine saves to thwart the likes of James Rodriguez, Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo but was unable to keep Madrid at bay for 90 minutes.
Grade: C-
18. Glen Johnson
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The continued selection of Glen Johnson by Rodgers is a source of bemusement and frustration for Liverpool fans, with the right-back a rapidly diminishing force at this level.
This is extended into the Champions League, where the England international has made two appearances.
Deploying Johnson at right-back, and in doing so vying with Cristiano Ronaldo, was a miserable oversight by Rodgers, and while the defender's attacking forays were functional away to Ludogorets, he was caught out once more for Georgi Terziev's equalising goal.
Grade: C-
17. Joe Allen
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One of many Liverpool players to make their Champions League debut this season, Welsh midfielder Joe Allen has struggled to cope with the demands of the competition.
After the draw with Ludogorets, Allen told the Liverpool Echo that "the commitment was there for everyone to see," but the midfielder has to match this with a physicality and nuance.
Against Madrid at Anfield, Allen was particularly anonymous and will need to contribute more to make his presence felt if Liverpool are to progress.
Grade: C-
16. Mamadou Sakho
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Mamadou Sakho has been missed sorely this season for the Reds after suffering a series of injuries which has kept the defender out for almost two months—in that time, Liverpool's defence has wilted miserably.
In his only Champions League appearance for Rodgers' side so far, Sakho outlined his cultured presence in the back four with a remarkable 97 per cent passing accuracy as Liverpool won 2-1 at home to Ludogorets.
Liverpool's best reader of the game, Sakho could be integral if the side progress to the knockout stages; however, the defender receives a low grade due to his lack of appearances.
Grade: C-
15. Martin Skrtel
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Slovakia captain and Liverpool centre-back Martin Skrtel faces a reprieve in these gradings for simply not being Lovren, but the long-term defensive mainstay on Merseyside has failed to impress.
Alongside Toure against Madrid and Ludogorets, Skrtel has looked more assured, however, and his no-nonsense approach was particularly useful in the latter.
But the No. 37 continually struggles with lapses in concentration—such as in the aforementioned Madrid defeat—and his physicality alone does not pass muster on such an elite level.
Grade: C-
14. Fabio Borini
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In the summer, Fabio Borini rejected moves to both Sunderland and QPR in order to challenge for a place in the Liverpool first team and, presumably, compete in the Champions League.
Unsurprisingly, this has not improved the striker's chances on Merseyside, and Borini has featured for just 113 minutes in the competition so far.
Starting as a lone striker in the loss away to Madrid, Borini showed application but little quality—perhaps the perfect crystallisation of his Liverpool career to date.
Grade: C
13. Adam Lallana
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Making four Champions League appearances so far, Adam Lallana hasn't quite reached the level required as the Reds look to challenge Europe's elite.
Lallana recently told LiverpoolFC.com that the Reds must "keep fighting" in this troubled period, and an impressive rate of 2.8 tackles on average per Champions League game underlines this in the midfielder, but Lallana must match this with his attacking output in his role.
He showed some promising touches in both encounters with Madrid but must have more substance to his game in order to truly thrive and boost the Reds' chances in the competition.
Grade: C
12. Steven Gerrard
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Utilised, disappointingly, as a No. 10 behind Rickie Lambert in the recent draw with Ludogorets, Steven Gerrard's positional conundrum continued, and he looked to struggle as an energetic side broke consistently on the counter.
However, when deployed in his defensive midfield role, such as at home to Madrid, Gerrard has similarly suffered.
Gerrard's most telling contribution so far was to dispatch the winning penalty in the opening victory over the Bulgarian side, but the captain must offer more than his set-piece prowess.
Grade: C
11. Jose Enrique
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Despite only making one Champions League appearance so far this season, in Liverpool's 1-0 loss away to Basel, Enrique earns a high ranking due to his contribution in that encounter.
Enrique made six tackles, two interceptions and two clearances, standing out as one of Rodgers' top performers on a night where the majority of his selection disappointed.
Understandably behind Johnson and Alberto Moreno at left-back, however, Enrique hasn't featured since.
Grade: C+
10. Emre Can
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Both of Emre Can's appearances in the Champions League so far for Liverpool have come against Madrid, and it is a testament to the midfielder that he took to both occasions with surprising familiarity.
Introduced as a substitute in the initial 3-0 loss at Anfield, Can kept his place for the return fixture after offering a guiding presence in the centre of midfield.
With Toni Kroos and Luka Modric running rampant in the former, Can's determination to show for a pass was vital as Liverpool tried to gain composure.
Can has featured sparingly, however, due to injury, and Liverpool are yet to see the true potential of the 20-year-old.
Grade: C+
9. Philippe Coutinho
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It has been another on-off season for Philippe Coutinho so far in 2014/15, and the Liverpool No. 10 has seen this continue in the Champions League.
For example, while hugely ineffective at home to Ludogorets and away to Basel, Coutinho shone at home to Madrid, with his confidence and flair bamboozling the likes of Raphael Varane and Pepe in the early stages.
Coutinho has made the joint-most key passes of any Liverpool player in the competition, with 2.3 on average per game matching that of Moreno, and his playmaking can be crucial.
Grade: C+
8. Lucas Leiva
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Like Toure, peripheral figure Lucas Leiva is becoming a regular fixture for Liverpool in the Champions League, and quite understandably, given the level of performances the Brazilian has been contributing.
A surprise inclusion in the 1-0 defeat away to Madrid, Lucas helped break up attacks and shielded the defence adeptly; however, the No. 21 suffered in the attacking phase.
Once more, against Ludogorets, Lucas offered energy and defensive stability in tandem with Allen in order to quickly win back possession in the midfield.
Lucas is becoming a specialist in that role in the Champions League.
Grade: B-
7. Rickie Lambert
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Rickie Lambert has been gifted his first-team opportunity following injuries to both Daniel Sturridge and Mario Balotelli and has so far grabbed this with both hands.
After a goal away to Crystal Palace, Lambert's header put Liverpool level at Ludogorets, and the 32-year-old's overall technical and defensive contribution proved invaluable; Lambert serves as a target for Liverpool's pacey charges, such as Coutinho and Raheem Sterling, to utilise.
These are early signs, of course, but Lambert continued to show his quality as a lone striker for Liverpool in the Champions League.
Grade: B-
6. Mario Balotelli
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Mario Balotelli's endeavours on Merseyside since a £16 million summer move have been well documented, but the Italian's performances in the Champions League stand out as a rare highlight within this.
Balotelli scored his first goal for the club, and Rodgers' first managing a side in the competition, at home to Ludogorets and seemed to thrive in the atmosphere.
It is the striker's confidence that is key to his accomplishments this competition, and Balotelli ranking in the top five for both key passes (1.3) and dribbles (1.7) made on average per game in the Reds' squad outline this quality.
Grade: B
5. Alberto Moreno
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Along with compatriot Javier Manquillo, Moreno has surprisingly shone in Liverpool's rocky back four since signing from Sevilla in the summer, and this trend has continued in the Champions League.
Particularly impressive in the side's opener at home to Ludogorets, Moreno illustrated his raw qualities by contributing decisively at both ends of the pitch.
Setting up Balotelli's goal with a hopeful lofted ball in that game, Moreno registered Liverpool's first assist in this season's competition, and his attacking work has been invaluable.
Grade: B
4. Kolo Toure
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Kolo Toure's stock on Merseyside is rapidly rising once more after a pair of impressive performances marshalling the Liverpool back line against Madrid and Ludogorets.
After Liverpool's dismal 3-1 defeat to Palace in the Premier League, former centre-back Jamie Carragher told Sky Sports, per The Telegraph, that the Reds have "no leadership on the pitch."
Toure has shown his leadership in the Champions League, and his organisation was particularly impressive away to Madrid; the intervention of the Ivorian has improved Skrtel.
Grade: B
3. Raheem Sterling
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England international Sterling has been suffering an untimely lull in form as the Reds' collective issues mount up this season but has remained one of the side's most effective Champions League performers.
While wholly ineffective away to Basel, this has been somewhat of an anomaly, with the 19-year-old consistent ever since in the competition.
Deployed in various positions—almost as a second striker at home to Madrid and at left wing away to Ludogorets—Sterling has ensured his direct running style has troubled opposition defences throughout.
Grade: B+
2. Jordan Henderson
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Appointed as Liverpool vice-captain earlier this season, after the departure of Daniel Agger, this represented the rise in importance of Jordan Henderson to Rodgers' side.
This has continued in the Champions League, where the midfielder has taken to the competition with poise and grit.
His goal to put Liverpool 2-1 up away to Ludogorets exemplified Henderson's qualities in running from deep to finish chances, and the former Sunderland man's leadership on the pitch has been invaluable.
Grade: B+
1. Javier Manquillo
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On loan Atletico Madrid right-back Manquillo is making a name for himself on Merseyside as one of the club's most consistent defenders, and his performances in the Champions League have arguably sealed this.
His defensive approach is outlined by a phenomenal average of 5.3 tackles per game in the competition, bettered only by Enrique's tally of six from one appearance.
Furthermore, his bursting run earned the winning penalty in the Reds' first encounter with Ludogorets.
Manquillo makes top of our list.
Grade: B+
Brendan Rodgers' Best Champions League XI so Far?
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Based on our rankings, here is Rodgers' best Champions League XI considering their form in the competition so far this season:
XI: Mignolet; Manquillo, Skrtel, Toure, Moreno; Lucas, Henderson, Coutinho, Sterling; Balotelli, Lambert
Do you agree with this selection on Liverpool's performances so far? Which players have unfairly missed out? Feel free to debate our rankings in the comments section below.
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