Liverpool 1 Aston Villa 1 – Player Rating
By Roy Skillen
It wasn’t the performance that Liverpool would have wanted, but with Bobby Firmino scoring a late equaliser in his final match as a red at Anfield the day wasn’t short or drama. Jurgen Klopp has tweaked his system in recent weeks in a final attempt to push for Champions League football. The result was an impressive winning run that many thought might help us edge out Manchester Utd in fourth spot. But when Jacob Ramsey put Villa ahead in the first half and with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Co huffing and puffing without reward any hope was slowly drained out of the crowd and the became about saying good bye to an old friend.
Alisson – 7
Solid as always and made one fantastic save from Douglas Ruiz. If anyone deserves a long holiday with his family after this disastrous season it’s the world’s most beautiful Brazilian.
Trent Alexander-Arnold – 4
Everything has come so easy for him in recent weeks. The move to get him on the ball in the middle of the park has worked wonders for his confidence and his output. Unfortunately, this wasn’t one of his better days. Trent’s passing was off, his frustration evident and this was one performance he should probably forget about as quick as possible.
Ibrahima Konate – 6
Konate is a beast and was rarely troubled again against Aston Villa. He’s strong, quick and reads the game so well. However, he did give away a clumsy penalty in the first half and that has to be taken into account when giving him his overall match rating.
Virgil Van Dijk – 8
It’s still too early to say that Virg is back to his very best. Like most of the squad he has been poor for the majority of the season. But an up turn in form over our recent winning run has given us all hope for the next few years. Against Villa he was calm, composed and looked to have regained his enigmatic aura.
Andrew Robertson – 4
Like his partner in crime, TAA, this wasn’t one of Robbo’s best days. He is one player that has actually found it difficult in the new system and should we continue playing the same way next year then he find his game time pretty limited.
Fabinho – 6
Fabinho was proactive in his attempts to try and win back possession throughout, but gave away far too many free kicks and once again looked a yard off the pace. I still think he has plenty to offer Liverpool moving forward but Klopp needs to be looking at a succession plan for the defensive midfield role.
Jordan Henderson – 4
Henderson fills a hole in the team and always gives his all. He still presses well and is positionally sound, but his use of the ball seems to get worse by the week. For me it’s time to take the captain’s armband away from Hendo and settle him in to a squad role for the coming years.
Curtis Jones – 6
This wasn’t the brash confident Curtis we have seen over the last month or so. Instead we got the Wish.com version. It looks the same and never does a lot wrong at first, but you just know in your heart that it wont last the full 90 minutes.
Mo Salah – 5
Mo did get the assist for Bobby’s equaliser, however, nothing else went right for our Egyptian King against Aston Villa. Salah has still had a stellar season in terms of stats and I hate to think where we would have finished without him and Alisson Becker in the team.
Luis Diaz – 4
Diaz is not the same after his injury. I think he will be back as the guile, determination and heart are still there but he needs a full summer and more minutes under his belt before we see the best of him again.
Cody Gakpo – 6
Gakpo is a beautiful, beautiful footballer. He was robbed of a goal after one of the worst offside decisions you will ever see and finished the game with six stud marks up his chest.
SUBSTITUTES
Diogo Jota – 5
Came on for Cutis Jones as we chased an equaliser. Didn’t really get into the game though.
James Milner – 5
Milner was making his last appearance at Anfield for Liverpool and got his customary 10 minutes at the end of the game.
Roberto Firmino – 10
Don’t @ me about this one. It’s Bobby Firmino, he scored the equaliser and we will never see him in a Liverpool shirt at Anfield again.
Kostas Tsimikas – 5
Kostas actually cried after this match and stayed around on the pitch for a while taking photos with fans. Actions that actually got my feeling like he could be leaving in the summer.
Harvey Elliott – 5
Didn’t make much of an impact. One shot that went straight at the goal keeper, but there will be a lot more to come from Harvey next season.