What a shambles. Stoke City ran out 6-1 winners at the Britannia Stadium, condemning us to a sixth place finish in the Premier League and leaving Brendan Rodgers and co with a lot of explaining to do.
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Mame Biram Diouf (2), Jon Walters, Charlie Adam and Steven N’Zonzi gave the home side an extraordinary 5-0 half-time lead. The Reds were better after the break – it was hard not to be – with Steven Gerrard pulling one back, but there was still time for former Liverpool striker Peter Crouch to complete our humiliation just before the end.
Brace yourself… Read the full Liverpool player ratings below:
GK) Simon Mignolet – 5/10
More often than not, he was criminally let down by his defenders. However, any goalkeeper that concedes six times is unlikely to be totally blameless. The Belgian will definitely think he should have done better.
RB) Emre Can – 3/10 (Toure – 46′)
The German has had an excellent season but he was given a torrid afternoon here, before being replaced at half-time. Marko Arnautovic tore him a part on our right-hand side, while he gifted Walters his goal with a poor pass.
CB) Martin Skrtel – 5/10
Skrtel was far from his best today – although no one played well – getting overrun more often than not as Stoke charged forward. He threw himself into challenges with his usual gusto but could do little to prevent the result.
CB) Mamadou Sakho – 4/10
Completely lost Crouch for Stoke’s sixth goal and looked uncomfortable throughout the game. Can perhaps be slightly more easily forgiven than his teammates, having only just returned from two months out injured.
LB) Alberto Moreno – 3/10 (Ibe – 46′)
Was completely pinned back by Stoke’s attacking prowess and was prevented from getting forward at all on the left-hand side. He was practically bullied by the home side’s physicality and he was withdrawn at the break.
DM) Lucas Leiva – 5/10
Hasn’t looked the same player since limping off against Everton earlier in the year. He’s played a bit-part role since returning from injury and still didn’t look ready to start today. Was ineffective and neutralised easily.
CM) Jordan Henderson – 6/10
Full of energy and determination but he had little impact on the game itself. There was no cutting edge or invention in the final third and you have to wonder who our captain in-waiting will be playing with next year.
CM) Joe Allen – 5/10 (Lambert – 69′)
The same old story from the Welshman – tidy in possession but frustratingly absent from anything of significance. He was unsurprisingly withdrawn with 20 minutes remaining, as Rodgers threw on another centre-forward.
AM) Adam Lallana – 5/10
Forced a couple of decent saves from the Stoke goalkeeper but needed to stay on his feet more against our physical opponents. He was pushed off the ball much too easily and his penalty appeals fell on deaf ears.
AM) Steven Gerrard – 6/10
Grabbed what’s likely to be his final game for the club, slotting in the consolation with 20 minutes remaining, but won’t want to remember much else from his Liverpool farewell. He’ll already have one eye on the next flight to LA.
ST) Philippe Coutinho – 6/10
The Brazilian was bright early on and curled a couple of decent efforts narrowly wide of the target. He faded as the game went on and was often left isolated at the top of our attack. He struggled to create space and missed the running of Sterling alongside him.
Subs:
1) Kolo Toure – 5/10 – Failed to prevent the cross for Crouch’s goal but the game was gone already.
2) Jordon Ibe – 6/10 – Probably the best player in a Liverpool shirt today. Although that’s not saying much.
3) Rickie Lambert – 5/10 – You know what you’re going to get from him. It was a token change.
