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Liverpool sealed a 2-0 win over FC Midtjylland on Tuesday night, although the match will not live long in the memory of all who witnessed it. The Reds failed to come to life for much of the game, and the Danish visitors had the best chance of the first half.
It was Liverpool who finally took the lead, after some good work on the right side from Trent Alexander-Arnold that provided Diogo Jota with a single touch for the club’s 10,000th goal. Liverpool lost Fabinho to a suspected hamstring injury, while Jurgen Klopp was forced to bring in several starters to try and maintain the victory. With seconds to go, Mohamed Salah scored a penalty to secure a 2-0 victory, one that leads Liverpool to the top of Group D with six points.
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Positive
Rhys Williams looked confident on the baseline after coming in, apparently giving Jurgen Klopp another central defense option he can rely on. In addition, the contribution of the sides was, as always, exemplary. While Jota’s goal was simple enough, his impressive start to life in Merseyside will go a long way toward converting the remaining cynics.
Negative
Liverpool did not register a single shot in the first half hour, a damning statistic for players like Divock Origi and Takumi Minamino. They both seemed quite off the beat today, while the midfield pivot of Jordan Henderson and James Milner also seemed to lack urgency or intention. The house improved as the match progressed, but it felt a lot like a Liverpool team that was playing with itself, rather than playing to impress the boss.
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Manager rating out of 10
7 – He put his faith in a relatively untested attacking quartet and almost paid the price for it. Minamino and Origi were flattered to cheat, meaning Klopp was forced to bring in his first choice three forwards in the second half. To Klopp’s credit, he bounced back after losing Fabinho to injury, and made a smart tactical adjustment at halftime by introducing Georginio Wijnaldum. Not one for the highlight reel, but it reacted well.
Player ratings (1-10; 10 = best, players submitted after 70 minutes get no rating)
GK Alisson, 7 – He made an excellent save in the opening minutes of the game, rescuing his team after a sleepy defense. The Brazilian plug looked formidable every time it was called into action.
DF Trent Alexander-Arnold, 8 – He attended Jota’s first game, in a play that also started the English international. Excellent in both directions, but tonight, her creativity in particular made the difference.
DF Joe Gomez, 6 – Slightly whimsical layout, but overall, he played a vital role in helping his team close a clean sheet.
DF Fabinho, 6 – He looked good from the start, but was replaced after just 30 minutes when he appeared to pull on his hamstring. For Liverpool, the central position is becoming an increasingly pressing concern this season.
DF Andrew Robertson, 7 years old – As is often the case, the wings were critical tonight. Alexander-Arnold will invariably steal the headlines, but the Scotsman’s painstaking contribution shouldn’t be overlooked either.
MF Jordan Henderson, 6 years Solid, at least. The captain was replaced at half-time, giving way to Wijnaldum.
MF James Milner, 7 – While often a waste in the future, the veteran midfielder certainly made up for any creative shortcomings by doing the dirty work to the best of his ability. In Fabinho’s absence, Milner completed quite well, contributing some crucial tackles and interceptions.
Diogo Jota scored for the second straight game for Liverpool as the Reds continued their perfect start to the Champions League. Getty
FW Diogo Jota, 8 – He scored the opening goal of the game, at a time when Liverpool were underperforming enormously. The new signing was undoubtedly the best of Liverpool’s second line of attack.
FW Xherdan Shaqiri, 7 – Strong and vivacious, but the ball never sat well for the burly winger. However, you will be delighted to have gotten some vital minutes.
DEL Takumi Minamino, 6 – It showed glimpses of what it can do, but too often it lacked the end product. He was replaced by Salah at the hour mark.
FW Divock Origi, 6 – Once again, the Belgian failed to shine, and his first touch was especially poor. It’s like some occasions just weren’t important enough for the striker.
Substitutes
DF Rhys Williams, 7 years old The biggest complement you can give the young defender is that he seems to belong to this level. Given that he replaced a world-class talent at Fabinho, that’s a very good sign.
MF Georginio Wijnaldum, 7 – He added energy and determination to the midfield after his entry into the break. A clever Klopp move.
FW Sadio Mane, 6 – It wasn’t as shocking as Salah, but it certainly gave the visiting team something to worry about.
FW Mohamed Salah, 7 – He scored a late penalty to seal the victory. Liverpool instantly looked more threatening after their presentation.
FROM Roberto Firmino, N / R – He worked hard for the cause later, but squandered a golden opportunity to score a second goal.
Source: espn.co.uk
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