PLAYER RATINGS: BRENTFORD 3-1 LIVERPOOL

Liverpool were battered and bullied tonight as Brentford cruised to a 3-1 home victory. It could have been more, with the Bees seeing two goals chalked off by VAR first half. Here are player ratings from the encounter.

Alisson – 6

I feel sorry for him. It’s a joke of a defence that’s ahead of him. He’s having to bail the side out too many times. He did just that when Mbeumo went clean through on goal at 0-0. He faces a one on one every game. It’s beyond a joke. Was alert to push a cross away late on to prevent it being 4-1.

Alexander-Arnold – 5.5

Last season their tactic was to outnumber him at the backpost and swing crosses in. They did just that for the second goal with Norgaard and Wissa both waiting for the cross. Wissa got to it and powered it home despite the best efforts of Alisson. How the Reds didn’t plan for that is on the coach. Trent provided a moment of quality second half with a superb left footed cross for Ox to nod home. He rushed his crosses after that.

Konaté – 4

Thought he defended well enough till late on when he was just too weak, allowing Mbeumo to send him sprawling before finishing past Alisson to seal the points. Unfortunate own goal first half as well. Not an easy return to action. He needs to keep his chin up.

Van Dijk – 4

All over the place at the back. Gave one ball away cheaply and Brentford countered with Mbeumo almost scoring at the backpost. He was burned for pace by Mbeumo around the halfway line, with Alisson coming to his rescue. The side was terrible defending set pieces and as the leader, he takes the flak. Subbed at halftime.

Tsimikas – 4

Should have scored when Ox found him at the backpost with a flick. He went near post when he should have been driving that ball far post. Gave it away loads. Didn’t offer the energy we’ve grown accustomed to on the left flank. Taken off at the break.

Fabinho – 5

Won a few challenges. Joined the attack to try and offer up an extra body against the deep lying defence. Gave it away at times second half but was part of a brief turnaround that threatened a comeback.

Elliott – 2.5

Seconds after a Brentford goal is disallowed, Alisson passes to him and for some reason he goes for a dummy. We had been under pressure and had gotten lucky to still be a goal down and he chose that moment to attempt a dummy in his own defensive third. No defending that performance. He’s a creative midfielder that doesn’t create enough. Found out tonight.

Thiago – 6

First half he couldn’t really impose himself on proceedings, as he just moved the ball from side to side. Second half I felt he stamped himself on the game a lot more, forcing openings that weren’t there and finding passes that set us on the attack. Wonderful through ball to Darwin for his disallowed goal. Saw two shots charged down on the edge of the box.

Salah – 5

A fantastic touch to bring down a long ball early on and then an exquisite through ball to Darwin. Was quiet thereafter. Played far too wide first half. Got closer to the goal second half and still couldn’t get into the game. Tried to deceive Raya at his near post but Mee deflected it behind.

Darwin – 5

It’s getting hard to defend him. Yes he was unlucky to see his early effort cleared off the line after rounding the goalkeeper. Yes he was unlucky to have been adjudged just offside after he sprinted in behind and lobbed Raya. At what point does it go from rotten luck to just poor form? A shot from an angle late on was just embarrassing.

Oxlade-Chamberlain – 5.5

Lovely backheel flick to present Tsimikas with a chance backpost. Was poor the rest of the half. Second half he was much better and scored with a pinpoint header.

Substitutes

Matip – 6

Added a bit of urgency with his runs upfield, causing several overloads. Defended well. Almost profited off Konaté’s knockdown in the box deep into stoppage time.

Robertson – 6

Brought a huge dose of energy, with his first involvement setting the tone of the second half. Thiago found him in space down the left and his cross was just cleared behind by Zanka with Darwin lurking. His set piece deliveries weren’t good enough though. Took control after their third goal and barked instructions at his teammates, including charging Matip and Konaté with striking roles. Halted one counter brilliantly as the last man.

Keita – 6

Brought a bit of calm to the midfield. Was assured in possession and didn’t give it away as much as Elliott. Dribbled through the middle a number of times and tried to thread the eye of the needle. Could have attempted a shot or two. Was caught in possession for the third.

Jones – N/A

He’s not played in a while. Surprised he came on when we needed a goal. Not like we didn’t have an attacker that had scored goals this season on the bench or anything like that. His touch was rusty, understandably. Combined with Trent on the left wing as the right back’s cross-shot was blocked on the line.

Jürgen Klopp

He picked Harvey Elliott ahead of Naby Keita again. I just don’t get it. Harvey struggled against Leicester, why throw the kid in again? Once again I’m left wondering what Carvalho has done wrong. He scored at the Etihad in his last appearance but was taken off at halftime and hasn’t featured since. Even a goal down he brings on Jones instead.

Away from the decisions, there are more pertinent issues. How is his side so vulnerable at the back? What is the plan against low block teams? Why is there no pressure on the ball when the opponents win it? What’s happened to ‘ New year but it’s the same old issues. The manager has a lot to work through.