Liverpool: Ranking Best and Worst Players for February
Liverpool survived one of the most demanding fixture lists of their season in February, and continued their positive momentum throughout the month.
A run of Premier League games against Everton (a 0-0 draw), Tottenham Hotspur (a 3-2 win) and Southampton (a 2-0 win) saw them firmly establish themselves as top-four challengers despite their poor start to the season.
Elsewhere, a pair of 2-1 victories away to Bolton Wanderers and Crystal Palace in the FA Cup offered manager Brendan Rodgers another chance at silverware.
The only disappointment came with Liverpool's penalty-shootout exit at the hands of Besiktas in their Europa League last-32 clash.
Heading into March, Rodgers can be pleased with his side's form.
Philippe Coutinho heads our list of top performers, but who stood out as the best and worst players for Liverpool in February?
Worst?
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When compiling a list of Liverpool's best and worst performers for the month of February, the positive monolith of the side's exceptional form stands in the way.
Certainly, Lazar Markovic experienced a peripheral role in a handful of games, but a goal against Spurs and an assist against Southampton exempts him from major criticism.
Similarly, Daniel Sturridge has struggled to produced a consistent run of top-class performances since his return from injury, but proved decisive at times throughout February.
Dejan Lovren's penalty miss was derided as Liverpool exited the Europa League at the hands of Besiktas, but the defender's performance in the preceding 120 minutes of that clash, and the confidence he showed to step up for the spot-kick, should be commended.
In truth, no Liverpool player stands out as particularly poor from the last month.
So here are our 10 best Liverpool performers from February.
10. Mario Balotelli
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While Mario Balotelli made just one start for the Reds last month, a consecutive trio of decisive substitute appearances in mid-February ensured his status as one of Liverpool's top performers.
The striker came off the bench to net his first Premier League goal and secure three points in the 3-2 win over Spurs, before a surprising showing work rate and intelligent movement allowed Sturridge space to net the opener against Palace.
Balotelli's demanding of the penalty kick in Liverpool's first-leg victory over Besiktas was criticised, but the 24-year-old's calm despatch underlined just why he was so confident.
Throughout February, Balotelli staked a claim for some form of long-term role under Rodgers.
9. Raheem Sterling
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While Raheem Sterling struggled with knocks and fatigue last month, the 20-year-old's quality and maturity shone through across his five appearances.
Perhaps Sterling's most impressive turn came off the pitch, as the forward outlined his meticulous self-critical approach, as reported by David Maddock of the Mirror.
"I am very critical of myself and always look at what I can improve on. At this moment in time that is my finishing, and no one else has to tell me that," Sterling said.
“When I get a chance to practice, I do. It doesn’t have to be a long shooting session but I get five balls on my left side and five on my right side and I will finish it in the box. Any chance I get, I am looking to improve.”
True to his word, goals against Bolton and Southampton helped Liverpool to two valuable victories in February.
8. Alberto Moreno
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Since Rodgers' switch to a 3-4-2-1 formation, left-back Alberto Moreno has found form, with a more attacking remit suiting his swashbuckling playing style.
Starting all but one game, Moreno created six chances for his teammates in the league in February, the joint highest of any Liverpool player.
Moreover, Moreno also contributed a series of decisive defensive performances last month, with his half-time introduction in place of Markovic stymieing the productivity of Southampton's Nathaniel Clyne on the way to the Reds' 2-0 away victory.
February was arguably the month that Moreno found true consistency in a Liverpool shirt.
7. Jordan Henderson
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With Steven Gerrard missing most of February through injury, Jordan Henderson assumed the captain's role with remarkable confidence.
Off the field, he displayed assurance and maturity in dealing with the bizarre furore surrounding Balotelli's penalty winner against Besiktas.
Furthermore, Henderson hailed Liverpool's "great character" after the 3-2 win over Spurs, in interview with BT Sport (h/t the Mail).
On the field, Henderson was most effective alongside Joe Allen in the Valentine's Day FA Cup victory over Palace, making six key passes, including a fine assist for Sturridge's opener.
6. Emre Can
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One of few ever-presents for the Reds throughout February, Emre Can continued to assert his dominance in a variety of roles in Rodgers' 3-4-2-1.
This was most apparent in Liverpool 2-1 win over Bolton at the beginning of the month, shifting from right centre-back to deep-lying midfield to a box-to-box role over a malleable 90-minute landscape—Can provided the impetus and persistence that ensured a late victory that day.
Can also proved crucial to Liverpool keeping a clean sheet in the Merseyside derby stalemate, with a composed display up against the hulking Romelu Lukaku taking the sting out of Everton's attack.
The 21-year-old did dip in for towards the end of February, but never to the detriment of the team.
5. Jordon Ibe
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It was difficult to see a regular route into the Liverpool first team for Jordon Ibe on his recall from a initial season-long loan spell with Derby County at the end of January.
After a pair of substitute appearances that month, Ibe was deemed fit for his first Liverpool league start on one of the most demanding of stages: The Merseyside derby.
Ibe's pace, direct style and fearlessness attributed to a performance that Rodgers deemed "brilliant," according to BBC Sport.
Ibe continued this with a series of eye-catching performance throughout February, with a virtuoso display in the first-leg victory over Besiktas serving as a highlight—the winger was fouled to win the deciding penalty—and has made the right wing-back slot his own.
The 20-year-old started every game he was available for in that role, usurping previous regular Markovic.
4. Simon Mignolet
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Simon Mignolet continued his resurgence in form throughout February, with a series of confident performances.
This was most evident with a resolute display in Liverpool's 2-0 win away to Southampton, in which Mignolet had to cope with abysmal conditions, dealing with a plethora of high balls and snap shots with ease.
Mignolet conceded just five goals in seven games in all competitions throughout February, keeping three clean sheets.
3. Martin Skrtel
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At the base of Liverpool's back-three defensive system, Martin Skrtel's game has been restored to its raw, physical best, and the centre-back thrived throughout February.
A consistent, composed presence between regular partners Can and Mamadou Sakho, Skrtel provided countless covering tackles and recycled possession efficiently.
Skrtel dominated the bullish Graziano Pelle in Liverpool's win over Southampton towards the end of the month, winning a sensational six aerial duels, limiting the threat of the already waning Italian.
Furthermore, the 30-year-old has demonstrated invaluable leadership qualities in recent weeks, perhaps announcing his intentions on the soon-to-be vacant vice-captain's role on Merseyside, following the summer departure of current captain Gerrard.
2. Mamadou Sakho
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At the beginning of February, Rodgers cleared the air over Sakho's three-month absence from the Liverpool side earlier in the season, as reported by David Prentice and Andy Kelly of the Liverpool Echo.
"Maybe he was frustrated with himself at times but he’s got a really strong mentality and that’s what you need, a team that’s hard to beat with mental toughness and he’s a tough boy," the manager pined.
Sakho outlined this toughness with a series of phenomenal defensive performance throughout February.
The 25-year-old dominated proceedings in the Reds' 2-1 away victory over Palace in the FA Cup, making six tackles, two interceptions and eight clearances.
While the defender ended February with a disappointing injury layoff, Sakho further established himself as a first-team regular last month.
1. Philippe Coutinho
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Philippe Coutinho bookended February with a pair of star performances in the January 31st win over West Ham United and March 1st's 2-1 victory at home to Manchester City, but the form the midfielder produced in between these displays is worthy of similar praise.
Tied with Moreno on six league chances created in February, Coutinho's central role ensured he operated as Liverpool's creative hub, with five chances made in 55 minutes in the Everton draw particularly outstanding.
Even during a muted turn in the win over Spurs, Coutinho produced some moments of pure inspiration.
With two strikes of spectacular quality last month, against Bolton and Southampton, Coutinho looked to be reaping the benefits of the "post-training sessions" outlined by Ian Doyle of the Liverpool Echo at the end of January.
Statistics via Squawka.com and Whoscored.com.
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