Source: team_talk
TT player ratings: Liverpool 1 Man Utd 2
TEAMtalk rates the performances of the Liverpool and Manchester United players after the Red Devils beat the 10-man Reds 2-1 at Anfield.
Liverpool:
JOSE REINA: Was troubled less than he would have expected by United but could do little about the equaliser and was relatively mistake-free. 6
MARTIN KELLY: Did a good job of getting forward but his crossing often failed to hit the spot. Departed late on with a knee injury. 6
GLEN JOHNSON: Had a great game out of position at left-back, driving forward and attacking at every opportunity. Was curtailed slightly after the dismissal and was at fault for the penalty. 6
DANIEL AGGER: Had little to do for much of the match with United's attack lacking potency - but misunderstanding with Johnson led to the match-winning penalty, injuring himself in the process. 5
MARTIN SKRTEL: Another who was not over-extended for the majority of the game. Failed to make his aerial presence count at the opposite end. 5
STEVEN GERRARD: The match had more personal meaning to the captain than most and it showed with his determination and drive, which was rewarded with a brilliantly-taken volley for the opener. 8
JOE ALLEN: Was his usual tidy self in possession but, strangely, started to get forward more once his side had been reduced to 10 men. Probably did not offer enough penetration with his passing while Liverpool were dominating. 6
JONJO SHELVEY: Had been busying himself in midfield but his over-exuberance got the better of him when a lunge at Jonny Evans resulted in a red card. 5
FABIO BORINI: Struggled to make much of an impact from an unfamiliar wide left position and injury ended his match at half-time. 5
LUIS SUAREZ: A threat from the first whistle and a real handful for United's centre-backs. Could have had at least one penalty and also troubled goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard on a number of occasions. 7
RAHEEM STERLING: The teenager started brightly and looked dangerous on the right but faded when asked to do more work in midfield to make up the numbers. 6
Substitutes:
SUSO (on for Borini, 46): Made an early impact with the cross leading up to the goal and offered a willing outlet. 6
JORDAN HENDERSON (on for Sterling, 66): Brought on to bring more energy to the midfield with legs tiring but was unable to have a more positive effect. 6
JAMIE CARRAGHER (on for Agger, 80): Replaced the injured Agger late on but had little to do. 5
Manchester United:
ANDERS LINDEGAARD: Had a busier afternoon than his opposite number but justified Sir Alex Ferguson's decision to select him ahead of David de Gea with a number of confident saves. 7
RAFAEL: Took his goal expertly and coped reasonably well with Borini in the first half and Suso in the second but his runs forward were limited. 6
RIO FERDINAND: Gave as good as he got in the battle with Luis Suarez and ultimately came out on top, although it was not entirely without worry. 7
JONNY EVANS: Solid enough performance alongside Ferdinand but will have been relieved he was not tested more by the Liverpool forward line. 6
ANTONIO VALENCIA: Anticipation and pacy run set up the penalty but his breaks forward were few and far between and he could have offered more down the right. 6
MICHAEL CARRICK: Struggled to get a grip on midfield in the first half as Liverpool dominated in central areas but did enough to keep a grip on things when it mattered. 6
RYAN GIGGS: Was not given the time and space he likes to be able to work the necessary openings and found it difficult to link with the attack until late on when gaps began to appear. 6
NANI: Failed to impose himself on the game and give United much from an attacking perspective and his half-time replacement by Scholes summed things up. 5
SHINJI KAGAWA: Found himself more isolated than he had been used to playing behind the front man and with Liverpool's midfield dominating he could not get as involved as he wanted. 6
ROBIN VAN PERSIE: The striker's lone role was a lonely one at times as he was also starved of service. However, he contributed when it counted with the winning penalty. 6
Substitutes:
PAUL SCHOLES (on for Nani, 46): His most telling contributions were misplaced tackles, one which led to Liverpool's goal, another which earned him a booking and one which could have conceded a penalty. 5
JAVIER HERNANDEZ (on for Kagawa, 81): Sent on to bring some life to a spluttering attack but was given little chance to impress. 5
DANNY WELBECK (on for Rafael, 89): A late change with Liverpool down to nine men after Kelly went off but had no time to get into the game. 4
