MADE 4 LIVERPOOL PLAYER OF THE MONTH – APRIL

It’s time to look back at the month that was April, and crown Liverpool’s Player of the Month. April saw the Reds contest seven matches in total, all in the Premier League. The Reds won four games, drawing twice and losing just once.

The month kicked off with a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Manchester City. Despite Mohamed Salah handing the side the lead, Jürgen Klopp’s men crumbled in the face of City pressure, suffering their joint heaviest defeat of the campaign.

A goalless stalemate followed at Stamford Bridge, before the impressive comeback at home to Arsenal. The Gunners took a two goal lead at Anfield before Liverpool fought back impressively to secure a point. That game sparked a turnaround in form.

A tweak in formation saw the side go on to record victory in each of their four remaining games of the month, winning 6-1 vs Leeds, 3-2 vs Nottingham Forest, 2-1 vs West Ham and a last gasp madcap 4-3 win over Tottenham Hotspur. Here are the top three highest rated players in April.

=3. Mohamed Salah – avg. rating (6.6)

The Egyptian was at his prolific best throughout the month, netting a team leading six goals. He opened the scoring at the Etihad with a sweetly struck first time finish into the top corner, before scoring again to halve the deficit against Arsenal.

He followed that up with a brace against Leeds United that saw him equal Robbie Fowler in the club’s all time goalscorer’s list. He went past the man nicknamed ‘God’ by Liverpool fans with the winner against Forest. He then put his recent spot kick woes behind him to slam in the third against Spurs.

That game marked Salah’s 300th appearance for the club, with the 30 year old netting 184 goals in total. Only three players in the history of the club managed more in their first 300 games. The Egyptian now has his eyes set on overtaking Steven Gerrard’s goal tally.

=3. Cody Gakpo – avg. rating (6.6)

The Dutch international enjoyed himself a strong month, scoring two goals and providing two assists. More than that, it was his tireless work out of possession and his interpretation of the false nine role that caught the eye.

He opened the scoring against Leeds with a a simple tap in at the backpost, before setting Salah up for a simple finish later in the game. His second goal of the month was a pile driver, catching Fabianski out from all of 30 yards to level the game.

In the victory against Spurs, he set up Diaz after showing a clean pair of heels to get on the end of Salah’s pass, hooking it back for the Colombian. Gakpo’s intelligent movement, control in tight areas and application off the ball has made the thought of Roberto Firmino’s departure less painful that it could have been.

2. Curtis Jones – avg. rating (6.8)

It has been a tough campaign for the 22 year old, with a number of freak injuries halting his momentum in the side over the past 18 months. He managed to put all that behind him to return to the side against Chelsea.

He put in a solid display and was rewarded with another start at home to Arsenal. He was involved in the first goal, with his backheel flick putting Jota in behind the Gunners defence, allowing the Portuguese to send in the cross Salah eventually scored from.

He kept his place in the side and rewarded the manager with a classy assist for Jota in the victory over Leeds. That was a crucial goal as well, coming with Leeds on top having halved the deficit just a few minutes prior.

He maintained his place in the side against Forest and despite continuing his relentless running, couldn’t quite influence the game. The manager spoke of how pressing and counter pressing remains the ticket to getting in the team. Curtis has punched in that ticket in recent weeks.

He continued that theme at West Ham, covering every blade of grass and proving himself adept in keeping possession, before rounding up the month with his first league goal in almost two years, tucking home the opener against Spurs at the backpost. He’s in a rich vein of form currently, and deserves to keep his place.

1. Trent Alexander-Arnold – avg. rating (7.5)

What a month it’s been for the second Scouser on this list! Trent started the month off with a torrid time up against Jack Grealish at the Etihad. Despite playing the pass that led to Salah breaking the deadlock, he was terrorised throughout by Grealish.

This saw the calls for him to be moved into midfield grow even louder. He was dropped at Chelsea and restored against Arsenal, but this time with a tweak to his role. He was given license to join Fabinho in a midfield pivot when the side had the ball, before dropping back into his right back position when possession was lost.

It had mixed results, with Martinelli enjoying too much space down that side but Trent going on to set up the late equaliser. Any new formation is sure to have teething problems so it was encouraging to see the manager stuck with it. This saw Trent truly flourished.

He put in a Man of the Match performance at Leeds, running the show from start to finish whilst laying on two assists. He provided another assist in the next game (at home to Forest), finding Salah with a beautiful delivery from a free kick. The Egyptian applied the finishing touch to seal all three points.

He continued in this hybrid role at West Ham and once again provided an assist, this time from a punched pass into Gakpo who turned and found the bottom corner from range. Trent was it it again over the weekend, whipping a devilish cross to the backpost for Jones to break the deadlock.

This new role is bringing out the best in him. He’s getting on the ball a lot more, with his numbers for touches going through the roof. He’s more involved as a result and is carving defences open for fun. Could we see him transition into midfield permanently?

Highest rated individual performance of the month:

° Alexander-Arnold vs Leeds United – (9.5/10)

Made4Liverpool 22/23 Player of the Month:

August – Harvey Elliott

September – Thiago Alcantara

October – Alisson Becker

November – Darwin Nunez

December – Trent Alexander-Arnold

January – Ibrahima Konaté

February – James Milner

March – Ibrahima Konaté

April – Trent Alexander-Arnold

*Average ratings are collated from the player ratings posted on this site after every match. Players must have earned a rating in more than half the number of games in the month under review.