Player ratings from last-night

[luke45]

What do people reckon?

I'd go for:

Sorensen - 7 - Couldn't have done anything about the two goals. Looked solid throughout and made some vital saves. Start him on Monday.

Huth - 5 - Another typical Huth full-back performance. Left for dead on numerous occasions, and drifted in too much throughout. Either play him at centre-back or don't play him at all.

Shawcross - 6 - He was at fault for Suarez's winner but overall I thought he was okay.

Woodgate - 5 - Worryingly poor again. Looked sluggish and slow and lost alot in the air too.

Wilson - 6 - A major improvement from the shocker he had at the Emirates but he still looks uncomfortable in that position. Higgy's return can't come soon enough.

Shotton - 5 - Worked hard and showed the desire to take on his opposing full-back but made the wrong choices in the final third too often.

Delap - 6 - There was far worser players on the pitch than Rory last-night.

Whelan - 5 - Pretty woeful distribution from start to finish. Mainly under-hitting passes more than misdirecting them. His form is far too inconsistent for me.

Etherington - 6 - I thought he looked good in glimpses but there's still something missing from the form that we were seeing last-season. I think it's a mixture of a lack of full fitness and a lack of confidence.

Jones - 7 - Another decent showing from Kenwyne, won his fair share in the air and held the ball up well and used it sensibly. Took his goal well too. I'd be tempted to start him on Monday.


Walters - 7 - Another superb shift from John, excellent pressure and and excellent delivery into the box for our goal. Used the ball well throughout.

Subs:

Pennant - 6.5 - Looked lively when he came on and put some good balls into the box. Hopefully he's close to regaining full fitness again now.

Jerome - 6 - Used his pace to good effect at times but was starved of service throughout his time on the pitch.

Crouch - N/A - Wasn't really on the pitch long enough to give him a match rating but I thought he had a very good case for a penalty in the last minute of the match.


In all honesty we got we deserved last-night. Liverpool dominated possession and created far more clear-cut chances than we did. I'm pretty sure the only shot on target we had all night was the one we scored from. Let's hope we can get a response against Newcastle on Monday night.

[potterpaul]

Tommy 7.5
Woodgate 6
KJ 7
Walters 7

The rest (excluding subs) 4.5-5

[Trouserdog]

Sorenson 7
Huth 5
Wilson 6
Shawcross 6
Woodgate 5
Shotton 5
Delap 5
Whelan 5
Ethers 5
Jones 7
Walters 7

subs

Pennant 7
Jerome 6

[cheadlestokie]

I honestly thought Woodgate looked very weak in any challenge he made and he has certainly lost his pace.
I also thought that Delap was dreadful and contributed nothing apart from his throw ins.
Why was Palacios not given at least 20 minutes,either on Sunday or last night?

[Jamo on the wing]

I reckon that's a pretty fair assessment, Luke.

[Deleted]

Main objective was no injuries.

I would have rested Shawcross, Ethers, Delap + Walters. Probably Wilson too.

It will do us a favour to have a break at some point, could be a blessing in disguise.

[pez75]

Agree with all of that except KJ - 5 out of ten for me - apart from the goal and a nifty back-heel he was gash - couldnt trap a bag of cement...

[march4]

Interesting thoughts guys.

No real mention from anyone about how Ryan Shotton was played in a very unfamiliar position against a top top team.

I didn't think Huth looked too bad last night (considering previous performances)

Woodgate just looks unfit to me (or so scared of getting injured he no longer wants to challenge for the ball).

I don't know about everyone else but Jerome looked very poor when he came on. He had the Tony Ellis instinct when given a sight of goal (ie no instinct at all).

Sorro was excellent and he must be close to displacing Bego in the Prem.

Ryan, Rory and Walters were their normal reliable selves and are the core of the team at present.

KJ much better first half, but faded badly.