Our Player Ratings As Liverpool Are Undone By City

This was a first Premier League meeting with a City side still operating under the shadow of their ongoing charges, and Anfield had been building towards it all week. In the end it was a result that flattered the scoreline somewhat given how the first hour went, but a red card changed the complexion entirely. Here is how we rated every Liverpool player and the manager on a difficult afternoon.

Goalkeeper and defence

Alisson Becker – 6/10. A smart stop to keep out a long-range Enzo Fernandez effort was the highlight of a afternoon where he was otherwise given little protection once his side went down to ten men.

Ronald Araujo – 6/10. Assertive in the opening exchanges and produced one promising cross after the break, but faded as the game slipped away and was withdrawn in the 74th minute.

Milos Kerkez – 6/10. Full of energy down his flank and whipped in one excellent delivery, though his end product was inconsistent and he too struggled once City found their rhythm.

Jeremie Jacquet – 7/10. Composed and alert, making several important interventions to snuff out City breaks before the game turned.

Virgil van Dijk – 7/10. A steady presence at the back who did little wrong individually, even if the collective picture around him deteriorated badly in the closing stages.

Midfield

Alexis Mac Allister – 6/10. Involved in a good Liverpool spell after the restart and came close with an effort that drifted just wide, but his afternoon is remembered for less important things than the man alongside him.

Ryan Gravenberch – 7/10 up to the moment that mattered most. Driving and influential for an hour, carrying the ball through midfield with real confidence, before a second yellow card for a needless lunge on Jeremy Doku changed the entire course of the match.

Attack

Florian Wirtz – 5/10. Had a gilt edged chance with Kerkez in space but chose the wrong option, and that kind of decision making continues to be the gap between promise and production in his game right now.

Lewis Koumas – 7/10. Bright and willing to run in behind, and forced a good save from Donnarumma when a different final touch might have given Liverpool the lead they deserved.

Bradley Barcola – 5/10. Had his moments in the build up but never quite settled into the game, and like several of his teammates will look back on missed chances before the red card with real regret.

Victor Munoz – 8/10. Liverpool’s standout performer, a constant threat down the right and the one player whose levels never dropped even as the game turned against his side.

Substitutes and manager

Trey Nyoni – 6/10 (on 66 minutes). Brought on to try to add some control once Liverpool went down to ten men.

Rio Ngumoha – 5/10 (on 75 minutes). Introduced for fresh legs but could not change the pattern of the game.

Jeremie Frimpong – 4/10 (on 75 minutes). Struggled defensively after coming on and was beaten for City’s third goal.

Joe Gomez – not rated (on 88 minutes). Too brief a cameo to judge.

Federico Chiesa – not rated (on 88 minutes). Too brief a cameo to judge.

Andoni Iraola – 6/10. His team selection was shaped by injuries before kick off, and his hand was forced again once the red card arrived, but there was little he could do from the touchline to arrest City’s momentum once Liverpool were down to ten men.