League Cup Round 4: Liverpool 0 – 0 Arsenal (4-5 on pens) – Player Ratings

A rare Wilson sighting, Shaq missing, New year, same back up left back (sorry, James)…

Adrian- 7

Does really well on Nketiah early on and Holding in the second half. Great pen stop – probably should handle the Willock pen once he got there, no? Ugh.

Neco – 7

Solid going forward, much improved getting back. Made some big-time, last-ditch tackles in the second.

Rhys Williams – 7

I’d say it’s playing next to Virg – but he looked just as solid lined up next to Gomez. Long may it continue.

Van Dijk – 7

Spent the first 60 minutes directing traffic. Nearly breaks the deadlock if it weren’t for some heroics from Leno.

Milner – 7

Poor bastard. Likely fronts his own money to get a back up left back and still ends up there. Wish we had 5 Milners though, just for the pens.

Wilson – 5

Not his best spot on the pitch to be fair but looked out of his depth. He’s got quality but it’s probably best suited elsewhere.

Grujic – 8

His best performance by a red shirt by a mile. Physical, imposing, dominant in the air, and our most dangerous player going forward. Which is weird to say because Mo was out there.

Curtis Jones – 6

Might be his worst performance in a red shirt. Just a bit off everything today. Hammered that pen though.

Jota – 7

Looked dangerous throughout. Runs forever. Disappointed to see him subbed off.

Minamino – 6

Struggled in the link-up today. Dropped deep too often and seemed a step off the mark. Probably should do better with the big chance before the half.

Salah – 6

Don’t know if he was trying to be nice and make Minamino & CuJo feel alright. He seemed isolated at times and faded in and out of the match. Very un-Mo like.

SUBSTITUTES

Gomez – 7 (‘61)

Comes in and there’s no drop off between him and big Virg. Can’t give a better compliment than that.

Origi – 5 (‘61)

A rudderless boat. Slows everything down. I didn’t think it could get worse. Then he took the pen.

Wijnaldum – 7 (‘76)

Great pen.