2 hours ago
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Well, that wasn't quite up to scratch.
Liverpool may be making steady strides in the Champions League, but a timid exit from the Carabao Cup and a dismal string of Premier League losses highlight that Arne Slot's team's performances have generally been lacking. This is particularly evident in how many individuals have struggled to reach their peak for various reasons, with the challenges faced by most of the new signings in adapting to new roles and methods being noticeable.
The Liverpool ECHO has assessed Liverpool's players throughout the 18 matches they've played in all competitions this season, scoring them out of 10 for every appearance in which they played for at least 15 minutes. Here is the average rating for each of those players...
Standout stars
Dominik Szoboszlai (average rating 7.25) continues to be the undisputed player of the season, with his exceptional performances last week against Aston Villa and Real Madrid reinforcing this fact.
Alisson Becker (6.78) was on top form until he pulled a hamstring, but he could return after the current international break, while the absence of Ryan Gravenberch (6.59) was deeply felt in midfield before his recent comeback.
Curtis Jones (6.50), on the other hand, has been dependable when called upon and perhaps deserves more starting opportunities.
Middle of the road
Giorgi Mamardashvili (6.44) has shown himself to be a reliable substitute when stepping in for the injured Alisson, while Federico Chiesa (6.40) has performed well whenever needed, although his impact has waned recently.
Virgil van Dijk (6.38) might not be at his peak, but he remains Liverpool's top-performing defender this season, while Hugo Ekitike (6.38) began the campaign strongly but has found recent matches more challenging.
Andy Robertson (6.36) and Conor Bradley (6.21), despite a few disappointing performances, have proven themselves as the most reliable defenders on the left and right flanks, respectively.
Cody Gakpo (6.19) has been consistent if not outstanding, occasionally finding the back of the net. He'll be hoping to reclaim his position on the left wing after being overlooked in favour of Florian Wirtz (6.13) in the past week, who has performed better in the number 10 role than some suggest.
Room for improvement
Mohamed Salah (5.94) experienced a significant dip in form in October, but improved showings against Villa and Real Madrid indicate he's moving past this slump. Alexis Mac Allister (5.82) is nearly back to full fitness following a disrupted pre-season and is now able to contribute more effectively and for longer periods in matches.
Ibrahima Konate's (5.69) performance has been inconsistent, with his showing at Manchester City on Sunday marking one of four times he has scored below five.
Alexander Isak (5.63), however, has become a concern due to an apparent lack of synergy with his teammates when on the pitch, while Milos Kerkez (5.29) has only shown fleeting moments of the talent that warranted his transfer from Bournemouth, marking a disappointing start to his career at Anfield.
Not enough minutes
Among those who haven't had enough game time this season to be included in the rankings, Rio Ngumoha (6.80) scores highly, largely due to his match-winning performance at Newcastle.
The fact that Jeremie Frimpong (5.71) doesn't feature speaks volumes about his injury woes, Joe Gomez (6.20) arguably deserves more playing time, and Wataru Endo (5.80) hasn't really had the opportunity to hit his stride.
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