Liverpool vs Manchester United: Player Ratings

Liverpool won the match and handed David Moyes a first taste of defeat as Manchester United manager. Brendan Rodgers set his team expertly well and they delivered. Daniel Sturridge with his third goal in as many games sealed the points for Liverpool as they enjoy top spot in the EPL for now. Player Ratings followed:

Liverpool

Starting XI

Simon Mignolet  8/10

He is turning out to be quite a bargain-buy for Liverpool after his assured and commanding display in today's game as well. He did not had quite a lot to do in this one but what ever came his way he dealt with it expertly. (Transfer of the season contender)

Glenn Johnson   7/10

Although his evening ended with an injury he can be very happy about his display today. He is in form and everything worked well for him. His partnership on this end with the Coutinho and Henderson is prospering with every game played.

Daniel Agger     8/10

It is easy to see why he is attracting so much attention from around Europe. He kept RvP quiet all day long and if Liverpool are thinking about finishing in the top 4, this is one man they just can not let go.

Martin Skrtel     7/10

Happy returns for the no non-sense Slovakian. He assisted Agger amiably and this is your first choice partnership for the remainder of the season Kop fans.

Jose Enrique     7/10

He does his work silently and efficiently. He is taking up a role of an unsung hero; a cult figure who is both admired by and less talked about. His role in the team is well explained and he fulfills his responsibilities to the best of his abilities.

Jordan Henderson 7/10

How has he improved remains a mystery to the neutral fans but his improvement is there for every body to see. Another brilliant shift from the English youngster

Steven Gerrard   7/10

He does not go on those lambasting runs any more and prefers to just sit back and dictate. Its working for him as his passing kept Liverpool playing a very decent tempo and pressing going.

Lucas Leiva      7/10

Distribution and tackling have returned but still looks a bit off pace, fitness might be an issue for the Brazilian but there are signs of improvement and recapturing that form before he got injured.

Iago Aspas       7/10

Another decent buy from Rodgers, another decent display from the wide man. He looked a bit disappointed by his performance but he needs to realize that it was against the best team in the league. Take heart from it and keep on performing Aspas!

Phillipe Coutinho    8/10

He isn't really suited to the wide position but

Daniel Sturridge    9/10

3 games, 3 goals, what more can you ask? there is no one missing Suarez at the Kop now a days.

Subs

Raheem Sterling   6/10

Chased well but did not keep possession at all for Liverpool to initiate an attack. Lacked strength and lost out all of his tussles against Valencia.

Andre Wisdom    7/10

His tackling was good and read danger well, his introduction nullified the Evra effect completely from the game.

Luis Alberto:       N/A

Came on for the last few minutes, did nothing spectacular, didn't really have to!

Manchester United

Starting XI

David Da Gea   7/10

Could not have done much to prevent the goal as he was crowded by his own players when Sturridge flicked it past him. Made a decent stop at the end and apart from that did not have much to do!

Patrice Evra   6/10

He enjoys attacking and got plenty of chances to attack but did not make any of them count. Sturridge was his man on the corner but he was too slow to react to the situation and prevent Sturridge from evading him. His last season in a United shirt one should presume

Phil Jones    6/10

Another injury concern for David Moyes, but even when he was on the pitch, he did not look at ease.

Rio Ferdinand  5/10

Normally its his partner in defense Vidic who gets nervous in this fixture, but Ferdinand himself looked very short of ideas especially in the second half where he enjoyed decent lot of possession but could not instigate a single good move.

Nemanja Vidic  5/10

We thought its Fernando Torres who is the problem Vidic looks suspect in this fixture, but he was looking shaky all game even without Torres in a liverpool shirt. Wasn't even able to place decent passes back to his own goal keeper.

Tom Cleverely  5/10

He definitely is not ready to play in the big games, another failure to live up to the occasion. Was always caught napping and out of position while all the play was being played around him

Ryan Giggs   6/10

His age should tell David Moyes that he is not the man to be playing 3 back to back games. Looked tired and sloppy, begging for a rest.

Micheal Carrick 7/10

The one and only potent midfielder showed his class with his passing and control. He needs some one along side him to shore up that midfield, Kaka may be the man Moyes.

Danny Welbeck  4/10

Another horrible performance from the young man. His goal scoring tally was never impressive but his linking today looked off as well. United can not rely on him for goals at all but now it seems like he is also losing his link-up with RvP up front.

Ashley Young    6/10

A first start of the season for Young but he failed to really take the chance, the crossing was minimal and did not get involved much in the game either.

Robin Van Persie    6/10

Two games against two good defenders have proved to be quite a nightmare for the current golden boot winner, he needs to improve his ability to link play up with the team when Rooney is not playing as he seemed isolated at times.

Subs

Luis Nani  4/10

Why hasn't he left United yet? Horrible crossing, poor finishing, awful decision making. Ship him out already!

Antonio Valencia  5/10

Isn't he the most over-rated player in a United shirt? I sure believe he is

Javier Hernandez  5/10

If you dont feed him, he is not going to do anything. He is a player who is good inside the penalty box and awful outside of it.