11 Sep 2016 17:12:42
Thought we were excellent yesterday - still some issues for us and I think Leicester are also a much weaker team this season which helps (no Kante seems a huge void for them to fill) but you cannot complain with a comprehensive 4-1 win.

Mignolet - 4/ 10 - a very poor performance were his distribution once again came under fire. Haphazard in possession, dallies with the ball and critically puts his teammates under pressure. Lucas's mistake was awful but, as alluded to by other posters, was created by a brainless decision from Mignolet.

Milner - 7/ 10 - well fair enough I criticised his inclusion as a left-back a lot, and he still looks positionally vulnerable at times, but he was so much better than Moreno would have been yesterday and certainly adds more solidity. Think he benefited from playing next to Lucas who, despite his mistake, was excellent.

Clyne - 6/ 10 - defensively he seemed to cope with what was thrown at him. Offensively he just gives the ball away far too much - good positions are thrown away either through poor passing, poor positional sense or poor technique. Still unconvincing at right-back for me.

Lucas - 7/ 10 - glaring error for their goal that, on a different day, could have proven significant. As it was it mattered little as we played very well - he reads the game exceptionally well, wins a surprising amount of aerial duels given his stature and, all in all, thought he marshalled the defence well.

Matip - 8/ 10 - very impressive. Cool, calm, composed and gave Leicester little with which to work with. He certainly looks to have improved the first team and hopefully he continues his excellent start to his career with us.

Henderson - 7/ 10 - understated but quietly efficient and really ran the entire midfield. As usual he was everywhere but he seemed to appear a bit more advanced in this game and it benefited both his play and the teams. He's a huge player for us with so much quality, I hope he isn't hamstrung by being played as a DM, he has so much more to offer.

Wijnaldum - 5/ 10 - Not very convincing for me. Every game he's played for us this season see's him on the periphery. He seems to do little of significance in either attack or defence and that is a concern when we have others players who could contribute more. Early days yet but, as when we first signed him, I fear he is not good enough,

Lallana - 7/ 10 - I thought the directness of his passing and in particular the speed of it was noticeable today. Far more one-touch passing, far more direct, give-and-go style football and far less slowed down, mazy dribbles. He still did it but it was less frequent and pronounced. Fair play for his goal as well - it was a beaut.

Firmino - 9/ 10 - Superb. He was a nightmare for their defence - constant movement, constant passing and moving and giving and going, and a goal threat. He was excellent and linked our attack well - I really like him working on the left-hand side he seems to link up better and isn't as burdened by being the focal point of attack - definitely see him at his best in this position.

Mane - 8/ 10 - He's been excellent. Full of energy, full of running, direct and scares defenders to death. He worried Leicester yesterday and his threatening pace opened them up on more than one occasion. He faded in the 2nd half and was eventually substituted but he has bags of talent and provides something our attack had been lacking. He feels like we have finally replaced that directness and pace which we lost when Sterling was sold.

Sturridge - 8/ 10 - he didn't get a goal, and he probably should have had at least 2, but he was excellent. Linked up well with both Mane and Firmino, provides so much more in terms of attacking intent in the centre and his movement is 1st class. That pass for Mane's goal was also very silky and I think we see the best of him up front - I hope Klopp keeps Firmino and Sturridge in the positions he used in this game, it is very, very effective.

Subs:

Coutinho - 6/ 10 - had some lively touches and movements but did not really contribute a ton to the game.

Stewart - 6/ 10 - came on and looked solid, linked up nicely and didn't do much wrong. A strong squad member I'd like to see starting in the DM role much more.

Can't remember if there was another sub.

Overall: Very pleasing. We were unplayable at times and, with an attacking trio of Mane, Sturridge and Firmino there are many goals in this team. There are some worries with defence and midfield though. The sooner Karius is starting games I think the better for everyone. Milner is doing well but of course, this early into his new position, the jury is still out. Wijnaldum still hasn't convinced in any way and looks a weak spot in that midfield. He contributed more yesterday than in previous games but, for me, its still hard to shake that feeling that we have other personnel who'd simply provide more. Overall though delighted, was a good match to watch and pleasing to see us play such attractive football - let's hope all the games are like this at the revamped Anfield.

p. s. The new camera angle, due to the new stand, was a little weird to get used to at first. As the game went on I enjoyed it more and more - really gives a more complete picture of the action on and off the ball - Lallana's goal also looked especially nice when it sailed in.

1.) 11 Sep 2016
11 Sep 2016 19:00:40
Perhaps harsh on Mignolet, forgetting the crucial stop he made on Vardy to prevent 3-2 and a very nervy final 30 minutes. Yes a mistake, but it technically shouldn't have stood as a goal, and was more than compounded by Lucas, who recovered with an excellent game.

Wijnaldum provided an assist for the important 3rd goal which i would call an attacking contribution.

I also thought Lallana was excellent and if it wasn't for the final goal that gave Firmino a brace and Mane an assist to add to his finish, Lallana would comfortably have been MOTM for me.

2.) 11 Sep 2016
11 Sep 2016 19:00:54
I disagree with you on Mignolet, where you clearly show your dislike for him IMO. It was Lucas' mistake and you cannot blame Mignolet for it. Lucas took 3 touches and Okazaki was outside the box when Mignolet passed it to him. I am not a big fan of Mignolet, but honestly, this nit-picking of all his mistakes and the turning of blind eye towards the fan favorites' mistakes are petty and disappointing.

3.) 11 Sep 2016
11 Sep 2016 19:14:09
I can't believe some of the negativity towards mignolet sometimes. he had a good game yesterday. Sure he's not the best in the world but at least stop giving him horrible ratings every game when he's not horrible every game.

4.) 11 Sep 2016
11 Sep 2016 19:24:01
Here here AG.

5.) 11 Sep 2016
11 Sep 2016 20:06:55
Wijnaldum is a passenger. I'm still not sure what his role is
I deteste "assist " debates. A decent pass into lallana.

6.) 11 Sep 2016
11 Sep 2016 20:07:05
Mings had nothing to with Lucas mistake. When he gave him the ball Lucas had no opposition player near him and he could give the ball to Milner behind him. Not everything is Mings fault.

7.) 11 Sep 2016
11 Sep 2016 21:05:37
During the match Howard Webb mentioned the exact opposite in that the goal should have been disallowed because of the fact that Okazaki actually was already in the box. Fair enough it wasn't Mignolet's worst match, but his decision making was still erratic and imho stating otherwise is just trying to make a son's ear out of a purse.

8.) 11 Sep 2016
11 Sep 2016 22:09:57
Have to agree no mention of the great save migs made from vardy or the 3 great clearing punches he made I'm not his biggest fan but credit were it's due still a few dodgy passes out that were misplaced but overall I'd give 6/ 10 no way a 4.

{Ed001's Note - great clearing punches? Not one was great or good as all 3 should have been catches! When did people accept punches as a good thing, when they are ridiculous?}

9.) 11 Sep 2016
11 Sep 2016 22:56:12
Well said AG, Lucas made the mistake not Migs.

10.) 12 Sep 2016
11 Sep 2016 23:29:31
Agree with your review in the main but wijnaldum was very significant in defence and attack yesterday. I think before yesterday's game he did look like a bit of a passenger but the lad made a few important contributions and will hopefully push on from here. Good interesting read though.

11.) 12 Sep 2016
11 Sep 2016 23:13:37
He was erratic and indecisive as usual. The save he made vs Vardy was one where he as a GK, should bail us out as that is his job. The bar is not very high for Mingo hence, the most basic things are graded higher than for other gk's. I hope the same standards will be used to judge Karius.

12.) 12 Sep 2016
12 Sep 2016 04:27:32
Mignolet dithered on the ball a number of times yesterday and put him teammates under the gun a number of times with his bizarre decision making. Lucas was at fault for their goal but Mignolet was also complicit. He simply does not know when to pass it and when to hoof it and it makes life difficult for the defence. This is one of many consistent faults in his game that shows no signs of improvement. He did not play very well and was, in my opinion, our worst player on the pitch yesterday for the 90 minutes - tell me who played worse if you disagree so much.

13.) 12 Sep 2016
12 Sep 2016 05:22:33
Agree with Ed when it first started happening my dad would laugh at people punching crosses now no one bats an eye. Also are people talking about that Vardy breakaway that was right at Mignolet being the good save? I didn't see the replay but my initial reaction was standard save.

14.) 12 Sep 2016
12 Sep 2016 06:35:49
Too harsh on Migs and Wijnaldum but, I guess, as nominated scape goats they will never score more than 5/ 10. 🙄.

15.) 12 Sep 2016
12 Sep 2016 06:48:50
What did Mignolet do to deserve a score of more than 5/ 10 Ron? And Wijnaldum, except for assisting Lallana, what else did he actually contribute to the game? Or should we just pretend everyone was amazing? Tell me Ron who was worse than either Mignolet or Wijnaldum yesterday?

16.) 12 Sep 2016
12 Sep 2016 11:45:34
Disagree with most of that post to be honest. I think because we watch and support a team we can be so hypercrytical of every performance at times. Let's be happy that we spanked the current champions 4-1 (and could've been more) and take that into the next game. If we had the same interest in City, Chelsea, Utd etc. we could all pick holes in their players performances too. A great result, great performance and all bodes well for the future.