Manager, Goalkeeper and Defenders
Ralph Hasenhuttl, Manager – 7
Went with his strongest side with few questions other than who is starting at right back. Ward-Prowse got that nod and Romeu took his place in the centre of the park. His team put in one of the best halves of the season, but were beaten by a clinical Liverpool and an awful display from the referee. A question should be asked in regards to why he took out both his strikers 2-0 down with 30 minutes left. However, resting Ings and Long for Wednesday is not a bad idea.
Alex McCarthy, Goalkeeper – 5
Made a crucial save on Van Djik in the first half and a quality stop on Firmino in the second. The Oxlade-Chamberlain goal probably would have beaten him regardless, but he didn’t even dive. Jumped the complete wrong direction on the Henderson goal and was slow off his line for the Salah finish. Needed a bigger game from him and did not get it with very few shots on his target.
Ryan Bertrand, Left-Back – 6
Was his cheeky self in defending the straight-forward runs of Mo Salah. Played with a lot of heart, but when the game was lost, so was he, bombing forward with little recovery.
Jan Bednarek, Centre-Back – 9
Was everywhere in the first half, winning the ball in the air routinely while dealing with Liverpool’s long passing game. Critical in keeping Liverpool out of goal and hard to fault him for just missing Henderson’s through ball to Salah. A rating like this for a defender in a 4-0 loss tells how good he really was.
Jack Stephens, Centre-Back – 8
Did not do a lot wrong in this game, but sending him up on set pieces just does not make sense. Cut out some difficult passes to defend and was relatively mistake free. Finished the game with a no doubt yellow card on a Firmino break.
James Ward-Prowse, Right-Back – 7
Filled in at right back admirably. Beat more than once early, but was excellent in recovery. Just a tactically smart footballer, but did get caught sleeping on the second goal. We need him back in the centre of the park, but it would not surprise to see him get one more shift at right-back Wednesday.