Manchester City-Liverpool: Power Ranking Of The Liverpool Players
Liverpool against Manchester City historically has never been a match up that had much significance to the Reds.
Taking into consideration that every match in the Premier League is important however an encounter with The Citizens was not one that was considered as one of Liverpool's top matches of their season.
How times have changed.
Manchester City have such a wealth of talent that the prospect of facing them is now one of the major games for any Premiership team.
In truth, Liverpool have been poor tonight and there have been too many below par performances.
However, take nothing away from City, they were simply better than the team from Anfield tonight.
Roy Hodgson played an unfamiliar 4-4-2 formation, with Fernando Torres, starting his first game of this season and David Ngog partnered up front together.
Steven Gerrard and Lucas formed the central midfield partnership, with the Liverpool captain sometimes playing deeper than his Brazilian team mate.
That itself is a negative thing for the Reds. Surely Gerrard is more effective further up the field.
Daniel Agger was forced into the left back position with Liverpool very short in that position.
Liverpool were completely outplayed and humbled at Eastlands tonight with an embarrassing loss.
Pepe Reina
1 of 13
Power Rating 5 /10
After last week's blunder, Pepe Reina could not be faulted for the first goal of this game.
For the second goal, the Spaniard could have been a little more positive from the initial header from Micah Richards.
And from the penalty, he did not really make a real effort.
Reina has been pretty average, hence his middle of the road marks.
Glen Johnson
2 of 13
Power Rating 5 /10
Glen Johnson was like most of his team mates no more than average. Despite playing away, there were few times that we saw the England right back power down the flank and play a meaningful ball into the box.
Completely outshone by City debutant, James Milner, Johnson's defending was not much better than his attacking.
His night was summed up by a speculative effort that was wide high, wide and not very handsome.
Again another Liverpool player that seemed to have left his desire to play back at Anfield.
A very average performance from the Liverpool right back.
Jamie Carragher
3 of 13
Power Rating 5 /10
Yet again, Jamie Carragher was another player for the Reds who could not be given a score of anything more than average.
Mr. Liverpool defended well at times but was not his commanding self when exposed to the tenacity, speed and movement of Carlos Tevez.
Once again, it is hard to give another Liverpool player anything above average.
Martin Sktel
4 of 13
Power Rating 6 /10
Martin Skrtel is the hard man of the Liverpool defense. In Roy Hogdson's days at Fulham, he has shown that he likes defenders in the mould of Skrtel.
Very unfortunate to have been shown the yellow card extremely early on in the match, Skrtel managed to make it through the match without being cautioned again and hence becoming Liverpool second successive sending off.
Although, many referees would have given him a second yellow for the foul on arguably the best player on the pitch when conceding the penalty, Skrtel was lucky to have stayed on the pitch.
Despite having to walk a tight rope, the Reds' hard man defended better than his teammates. He put in some towering headers and some good challenges.
But above all, he was one of the few players in a red shirt tonight who played with any pride and passion and just for that he lifts himself out of the mode of averageness.
Daniel Agger
5 of 13
Power Rating 6 /10
Daniel Agger had the unenviable task of marking City's flying right winger Adam Johnson. On his day Johnson is a match for a world class left back, let alone a make shift one.
Agger however, equipped himself rather well despite getting little help from Milan Jovanovic.
The Dane who is much more comfortable at centre back but did his best to subdue a winger who will create havoc for many a team, particularly at Eastlands.
At times, Agger moved in field to cover his centre back when needed and even found his way up the field occasionally.
However, this will be a night he will wish to forget and get back to playing in the middle of the defense.
But he was another, that did not let the side down and kept trying where others seemed to have given up and for that he elevates himself above the mediocre.
Steven Gerrard
6 of 13
Power Rating 6 /10
Steven Gerrard did whatever he could in an attempt to lift his sad Liverpool team out of a morale-sapping defeat from central midfield.
Although, he prefers to play in this position, it is arguable that he is much more effective in a more advanced role.
At times tonight he was sitting in front of the back four with his other midfielders further up the pitch. Gerrard in this position is not going to take the game by the scruff of the neck and make something happen.
A few good shots just after the Reds went 2-0 down and some powerful running were pretty much all the Liverpool captain was able to do tonight.
His desire and one of the few playing with any pride tonight lifts him slightly above average tonight.
Lucas
7 of 13
Power Rating 4 /10
Lucas has improved since arriving at Anfield and with all signs indicating that Javier Mascherano is leaving, the Brazilian may find himself playing in the Argentine's position.
If tonight's display is what Roy Hodgson is going to get, then Liverpool are already in trouble.
This was Lucas of old, too many loose and uninspiring passes and little short in the tackle.
Granted, anyone having to keep tracks of the giant Yaya Toure will have his work cut out, but Lucas did not even seem to want to get stuck in.
A poor first half was followed by a second wherein Lucas was pretty non-existent.
In an average team display, Lucas was below average.
Milan Jovanovic
8 of 13
Power Rating 3 /10
Some may say that this is being a little harsh on the Serb left-sided midfielder but Milan Jovanovic's disappearance in the second half pulled down the few good things he did in the first.
Having showed that he has the energy and drive that cold make him a Kop favorite, he showed some desire in the first period but fell away dramatically as the game wore on.
Lucky not to get cautioned for some blatant shirt pulling in the second half on James Milner, Jovanovic is going to be remembered for little else in the game.
Taken off with five minutes to go, Hodgson should have made this change a lot earlier.
A very low score due to his non-existence in the second half.
Dirk Kuyt
9 of 13
Power Rating 4 /10
Not even Dirk Kuyt's usual energy and never say die attitude was evident tonight.
Pretty anonymous in most of the game, the Dutchman found it hard to get into the match and found the game passing him by.
Industry and passion as the hallmarks of Kuyt's game but there was little of either tonight.
He did so little that little can be written about his performance except it was below average.
David Ngog
10 of 13
Power Rating 4 /10
David Ngog has come on leaps and bounds since last season but is still far from being a quality Premier League striker.
His confidence has grown and he is not afraid to the ball any longer. There is not the 'rabbit in the head lights' when he gets the ball.
His new found spirit was evident early on when he attempted a shot from outside the area in true striker style when others were in a better position.
He had pretty decent movement early in the first period but as the half wore on, he fell further into the shadows and in the second half was simply a spectator at times.
His first half displayed warranted a higher power ranking but his slide in the second half meant four was all he was going to get.
Another Red that seemed to be playing without much pride.
Fernando Torres
11 of 13
Power Rating 3 /10
Fernando Torres is woefully out of match fitness and sharpness. From the first few minutes, he was slower to the ball than defenders and all too often tried spectacular shots which were blocked before they got off his boots.
Torres needs matches to regain that sharpness that frightens the life out of defenders. Tonight, all he managed to scare was his manager, at his complete lack of pace and fitness.
It appeared a gamble to play the Spanish ace from the start but the player needs matches to regain his form, so the Liverpool boss had little choice.
He very poor first half was compounded by a similar second and by the time he was substituted in the 78th minute, City were wondering if they were right not to have pursued him more forcibly.
However, Torres will be back to full fitness in the coming games, but in this one he was extremely poor.
Ryan Babel
12 of 13
Power Rating 6 /10
Ryan Babel was the pick of the forwards when he came on. He made an instant impact giving Joe Hart some stinging hands from a venomous shot shortly after being introduced.
Babel seems to have much more desire this season and in this game seemed to have lost none of it. Pity he was not introduced earlier, some of it may have rubbed off on some of his colleagues.
A little too late to make much impact, but still caused City defenders a little trouble at the end.
Daniel Pacheco
13 of 13
Power Rating - spent too little time to make any real impact.
The youngster was thrown on at the end with five minutes to go without any real hope of turning the game around.
More for Pacheco to get some game time than anything else.
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