Player ratings: Watford v Liverpool – Aug 12 2017
By David Gate
Trent Alexander-Arnold – 7
It is a credit to him that after the first 15 minutes Watford chose to attack primarily down the left. Our best defender on the day which is a shocking indictment on the rest. He is an 18-year-old converted midfielder but looks hungry, willing and composed. Nathaniel Clyne has a job on to get his first team spot back. He was unlucky to be substituted late on for Joe Gomez.
Joel Matip – 5
If Liverpool have any hope this season of being succesful then we need Joel Matip to be a leader and a calming presence in our back four. Today that was missing. He get caught with some sloppy passing and poor defensive positioning. Though not normally a dominate aerial center back this game highlighted that weakness. An unusually poor display from the Cameroonian.
Dejan Lovren – 5
The Croatian knows his manager wants to replace him in the first team with Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk. Does that cause him to up his game to prove his manager wrong? Nope. This was classic Lovren; long periods of unfussy, solid defending then a brainfart. Liverpool are somehow in the position where simultaneously we shudder seeing Lovren in the line-up but absolutely cannot afford for him to be injured. Perhaps the biggest indictment on out squad.
Goal. Watford lead 1-0 as Okaka nods in from a corner.
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 12, 2017
Alberto Moreno – 6
He is like a new signing. A very bad new signing new signing that you immediately regret. Hassled and bothered by Watford all day. Has no discernible connection with Lovren. The gap between the two is a Christmas present to every team we play who has the sense to attack it. He would be graded lower if not for some good forward play. That we have two other left backs who aren’t playing is shocking. Moreno is an okay winger and that is how we should use him until he is sold.