Liverpool 0-0 Manchester City player ratings: Defence beats attack as Fernandinho triumphs

 

By last season’s standards, the 0-0 draw between Liverpool and Manchester City isn’t one that will live long in the memory between two tired sides that remain unbeaten and will be relatively content with a point. We rundown the top performers from a match that lacked star quality, with the defenders very much coming out on top.

LIVERPOOL - 6.60

Alisson - 6.97 - A quiet evening’s work for Liverpool’s number one but did make one smart stop low to his left from Mahrez in the second half.

Joe Gomez - 7.01 - Unfazed by a move back to right-back, the ease with which the defender switches from a solid centre-back to an attacking full-back is mightily impressive.

Dejan Lovren - 7.36 - Fortunate not to concede a penalty in the first half, the Croatian made an assured return to the team aside from that incident, winning five important tackles.

Virgil van Dijk - 6.97 - What looked like being a typically commanding performance was marred late on by a silly foul that gave City the chance to win it from the spot.

Andrew Robertson - 6.94 - Unable to get forward as much as usual, understandably, the left-back was solid defensively and completed three dribbles.

Georginio Wijnaldum - 6.12 - After a decent start in Liverpool’s press the game somewhat passed him by in the second half and he was booked late on.

Jordan Henderson - 7.04 - Looked to play forward and switch play when he could, while winning back possession well, particularly in the first half, with three tackles.

James Milner - 6.41 - Forced off after half an hour. Replaced by Naby Keita (6.16), who struggled to get to grips with the game and has regressed a little after a strong start to the season.

Mohamed Salah - 6.11 - Looked lively at times but the composure isn’t there at the moment to make the most of his impressive movement.

Roberto Firmino - 6.04 - Subdued performance, finding himself out on the left and out of the action, without so much as a shot, key pass or dribble. Replaced by Daniel Sturridge (6.36).

Sadio Mane - 6.28 - Drawn into a physical battle, particularly with Fernandinho, and ultimately offered little by way of attacking threat.

MANCHESTER CITY - 6.75

Ederson - 7.07 - Like his compatriot at the opposite end, had little to do bar two comfortable saves to keep a fifth clean sheet of the season.

Kyle Walker - 6.86 - Kept the ball well after Liverpool’s fast start and was completely untested by either Mane or Firmino on that side.

John Stones - 7.48 - An impressive display on his return to Merseyside, typically superb in possession (98 per cent pass accuracy) and dominant in the air.

Aymeric Laporte - 7.37 - Another performance to justify why the Frenchman is City’s first choice centre-back right now, won all four of his aerial duels and three interceptions.

Benjamin Mendy - 7.20 - Looked rusty and nervous at the start of the game but settled thereafter and played some probing passes, albeit with a meagre 71 per cent accuracy.

Fernandinho - 7.59 (Man of the Match) - Happy to play the villain of the piece, the Brazilian was key to settling City’s nerves and halting any counter attacks, by hook or by crook, with three tackles, three interceptions and four fouls.

 

 

Bernardo Silva - 6.89 - Kept his cool in the middle of the park in a deeper position than usual and evaded the press very well as the game wore on.

David Silva - 6.51 - Quiet by his superb standards, the Spaniard created two chances but was a little sloppier in possession than usual.

Riyad Mahrez - 6.09 - City’s liveliest player in the final third, albeit lacking the quality in his final pass or shot before blazing over from the penalty spot and passing up a rare win at Anfield for the away side.

Sergio Aguero - 5.82 - Nullified by City’s centre-backs, albeit controversially in the first half when the Argentine should have been awarded a penalty. Still no goal at Anfield. Replaced by Gabriel Jesus (6.12).

Raheem Sterling - 6.40 - Another frustrating return to his former club. Kept the ball well but carried no threat in the box whatsoever. Replaced by Leroy Sane (6.34) who won the penalty.

Liverpool 0-0 Manchester City player ratings: Defence beats attack as Fernandinho triumphs