Liverpool player ratings for their performances against Newcastle United…
Newcastle United 1-0 Liverpool – Ayoze Perez took advantage of a mistake by Alberto Moreno to hand the Magpies a 1-0 home win over Brendan Rodgers’ side, who were wasteful in possession and struggled to create chances.
Remy Cabella might have doubled the hosts winning margin, were it not for a superb outstretched save by goalkeeper Simon Mignolet. Liverpool stay seventh in the table, two points adrift of the top four ahead of the 3pm kick-offs.
Read the full Liverpool ratings below:
GK) Simon Mignolet – 6
Denied Remy Cabella when he should have doubled the lead, stood little chance with the goal after Moreno’s mistake.
RB) Glen Johnson – 6
Gave the ball away far too often, but did make one crucial intervention to deny a possible Newcastle goal.
LB) Alberto Moreno – 5
Looked good going forward, but made the mistake for the goal as he failed to clear, and allowed Perez to shoot.
CB) Martin Skrtel – 6
Should have scored with a header, and was caught out a couple of times at the back. Yellow card summed up his day.
CB) Dejan Lovren – 5
Positional awareness was exposed badly today, as he failed to step up in the build up to the Newcastle goal.
CM) Joe Allen – 5
Withdrawn just after the hour mark after picking up a cut on the top of his head from a nasty tackle.
CM) Jordan Henderson – 6
Struggled to influence the game, despite his usual high work ethic. Booked for a clumsy challenge.
CM) Steven Gerrard – 6
A couple of nice passes and flashes of the Gerrard of old, but can’t take a game by the scruff of the neck as he once did.
RW) Raheem Sterling – 6
Returned to the team today, but looked lost out on the right for much of the game, needs to play more centrally.
LW) Philippe Coutinho – 6
Looked excellent in the early stages, but faded as the game wore on. Came close with a decent headed effort.
ST) Mario Balotelli – 6
Perhaps the pick of Liverpool’s players, particularly in the second-half where he caused Newcastle a few problems.
Manager: Brendan Rodgers – 5
Needs to come up with something different, because the current team and setup is not working for him.
Subs:
1) Fabio Borini – 6 – Worked hard off the ball and through everything into the game after coming on. Some much needed fighting spirit in a Liverpool shirt.
2) Rickie Lambert – 5 – Offered little after coming on, he does not suit Liverpool’s current style of play, and he has having very little impact.