Anfield side lose at home to determined visitors from Villa Park.
Liverpool put in a poor display against a hard working Aston Villa side who turned up to Anfield with a game plan which Paul Lambert’s side stuck by for 90 minutes.
There was a lack of real guile and direction and the absence of Daniel Sturridge and Raheem Sterling was noticeable from the off and once Gabriel Agbonlahor had given Aston Villa an early lead there was a sense that it wasn’t going to be Liverpool’s day, and so it proved.
Simon Mignolet – 5
Once again didn’t command his box with much confidence.
Javier Manquillo – 7
Spaniard did well, a real threat in the opposition half and rarely put a foot wrong.
Alberto Moreno – 6
A decent, if unspectacular, display from the Spaniard who did also put in some fairly hefty challenges.
Mamadou Sakho – 4
French international was woeful, frequently leaving his man free and failing to form any sort of cohesive parnership with Lovren.
Dejan Lovren – 5
Croat got stuck in but had a shocker at the back, always looked shaky when Aston Villa were in the final third.
Steven Gerrard – 5
Far from commanding performance, a damp lifeless display that really is not something you are used to seeing from the Liverpool skipper.
Adam Lallana – 5
England man made his Liverpool debut and looked off the pace and did little before he was hauled off on the hour.
Jordan Henderson – 6
A determined average display and Liverpool fans are used to more from the England midfielder.
Lazar Markovic – 6
Plenty of endeavour, plenty of running but nothing of real note from the Serbian.
Coutinho – 5
Poor display from the Brazilian who appeared to want to launch every effort high into the stands rather than looking for team-mates
Mario Balotelli – 5
Liverpool striker looked as frustrated as his performance appeared to the onlooking Anfield crowd.
Subs
Raheem Sterling – 6
Unknown as to why he didn’t start the game and struggled to make things happen as Aston Villa battened down the hatches.
Rickie Lambert – 5
One dimensional and slow.
Fabio Borini – 5
Did nothing.
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