Liverpool

Liverpool player ratings vs Man City: Mohamed Salah fades as Reds' defence crumbles

Neil Jones
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Mohamed Salah Liverpool Manchester City 2023
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The Reds' top-four hopes took yet another blow as City came from behind to batter Jurgen Klopp's side at the Etihad Stadium

Liverpool's fading hopes of securing Champions League qualification for next season suffered yet another blow as they were beaten 4-1 by a rampant Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.

The Reds led briefly in the first half thanks to Mohamed Salah's clinical finish, but City levelled through Julian Alvarez, the stand-in for the injured Erling Haaland, before roaring away from their rivals after the break.

Kevin De Bruyne scored within a minute of the restart, and Ilkay Gundogan added another soon after, as Liverpool's fragile defence crumbled once more, leaving Jurgen Klopp bewildered.

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The impressive Jack Grealish completed the scoring, 16 minutes from time, as City rubbed salt into Red wounds.

GOAL rates Liverpool's players from the another disappointing afternoon on the road...

Editors' Picks

  1. Goalkeeper & Defence
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    Goalkeeper & Defence

    Alisson Becker (6/10):

    Left exposed by the team in front of him. He's too good for them at the moment.

    Trent Alexander-Arnold (5/10):

    Lovely ball to create the opening goal. Had a hard time defensively against the excellent Grealish. Unlucky for the third goal but was alarmingly sloppy on other occasions.

    Ibrahima Konate (4/10):

    Played like a bag of nerves and looked bewildered by City's speed and movement.

    Virgil van Dijk (4/10):

    Beaten too easily for the equaliser, and City exploited the Reds' defensive line time and again.

    Andy Robertson (4/10):

    Caught out pushing up for City's first two goals and was wasteful in some good attacking positions.

  2. Midfield
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    Midfield

    Fabinho (4/10):

    Played on the edge in terms of fouls in the first half, and looked a yard off the pace throughout.

    Jordan Henderson (4/10):

    Found wanting in terms of composure, legs and quality on the ball.

    Harvey Elliott (4/10):

    In and out, and too safe at times with his passing. Couldn't get near City's midfield stars.

  4. Attack
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    Attack

    Mohamed Salah (5/10):

    Ice-cool finish to open the scoring but should have set Jota up to make it 2-0 before City levelled. Faded before being subbed.

    Cody Gakpo (5/10):

    Showed a bit of fight at least, and a few touches of class. Terrible dive to try and win a penalty.

    Diogo Jota (5/10):

    Great run and set for the opener, but he faded as quickly as Liverpool did.

  5. Subs & Manager
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    Subs & Manager

    Kostas Tsimikas (5/10):

    On with the game lost. His main action in this game came when Pep Guardiola celebrated in his face after the equaliser. The Greek kept his composure admirably, there.

    Roberto Firmino (5/10):

    No impact.

    Darwin Nunez (5/10):

    Can't have been fit, else he'd have been on much sooner than he was.

    Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (5/10):

    Was no worse than anyone else, but his presence here tells you just how badly this season has gone for Liverpool.

    James Milner (N/A):

    On late. May well feel like he is too old for all this.

    Jurgen Klopp (5/10):

    What has happened to his team?! Made his subs too late.