Liverpool player ratings vs Saints: Trent 2, Mane’s worst ever performance

Central midfield: Thiago Alcantara – 6

The Spaniard had a shaky start to the match, giving away the free-kick that led to the goal (of course no blame can be attached for that), then getting booked swiftly after.

But the source of everything positive in the second half radiated from the 29-year-old, with positive passing, dictation of play, and the ‘hockey assists’ being controlled exponentially from his right boot.

There was nothing he could do – alas, he even came comparatively close to scoring with a late volley, blocked by the Saints’ defence.

The only positive is that we got 90 very much needed minutes for him.

Central midfield: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – 4

Another positive is the return of Oxlade-Chamberlain, but he wasn’t anywhere near as sharp as expected. He lacked any drive away at his hometown club,  No power, no determination – it seemed so anyway.

It was painful to see, and it was right that he was hauled off for Xherdan Shaqiri with half an hour left.

Central midfield: Gini Wijnaldum – 6.5

The Dutchman had an awful first half, from what we saw – which I guess is the point, as we didn’t see him.

But in the second, Liverpool’s number five and six controlled the game and always made an option for what again was a hapless front three.

The best player in the front six – but that is hardly a compliment.