Europa League - Liverpool 4-3 Borussia Dortmund (Agg 5-4): Player ratings
It was a special European night at Anfield as Liverpool defied the odds to overturn a disastrous start to the game and eventually defeat a fired up Borussia Dortmund side.
The game started with Liverpool conceding two goals in the opening ten minutes as Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang started the scoring for the Germans. Liverpool scored one back after the break through Divock Origi but Marco Reus restored Dortmund's two-goal lead.
Liverpool then scored three goals in 30 minutes to completely decimate the Dortmund defence which began with a Coutinho goal from distance, followed by headers for Dejan Lovren and Mamadou Sakho. It was a fine end to the night as Liverpool ran out 4-3 winners and won the tie 5-4.
Here’s a look at the player ratings.
Liverpool
Simon Mignolet – 7/10
Simon Mignolet was commanding and authoritative. However, he did let in three goals none of which you could fault him for. He made a point-blank save only for Mkhitaryan to push the ball in off the rebound. He was utterly helpless for the other two goals. Yet, he made some fine saves in the game.
Nathaniel Clyne – 6/10
Nathaniel Clyne was turned inside out more than once on the night. He clearly struggled all through the game but his offensive contribution was solid.
Dejan Lovren– 8/10
Dejan Lovren was a rock at the back for most of the game. The Liverpool defence was sliced open on many occasions but there was little either he or Sakho did wrong. He scored the winner at the Kop End.
Mamadou Sakho – 7/10
Mamadou Sakho has had better nights defensively but he made some really important blocks in which kept the scoreline down in the first half. He scored the third goal from a corner which sent Borussia Dortmund panicking.
Alberto Moreno – 7/10
Alberto Moreno was average on the night. He was exposed on the break for the first goal and should’ve tracked Mkhitaryan for the first goal having made his way back into the box by the time Aubameyang had taken his shot, but apart from that Moreno had a decent game.
Emre Can – 5/10
Emre Can was poor in the first half and Liverpool were overrun because of his inability to follow the game at the pace Dortmund played it. He eventually got better in the second half before being replaced by Lucas.
James Milner - 9/10
James Milner’s first-half performance was marred by Dortmund exposing the space between him and Can, but in the second half, James Milner played like a man possessed and assisted in the final goal.
Philippe Coutinho – 8/10
Philippe Coutinho started the game rather ordinarily and even gave the ball away for the Dortmund counter that led to the opener. He came to life after the first fifteen minutes and scored the second goal after half-time which was a fantastic shot from distance.
Adam Lallana – 5/10
Adam Lallana was average for most of the game. He had a great chance to score but misfired and was taken off for Joe Allen later on.
Roberto Firmino – 6/10
Roberto Firmino has had better days. He did get his groove in for a few good moves but nothing special and was substituted for Daniel Sturridge later.
Divock Origi – 8/10
Divock Origi worked his socks off on the night and gave Dortmund all the trouble in the world. He could’ve been more clinical in front of goal but the one clear chance he had, he buried it with the panache of a top striker.
Substitutes
Daniel Sturridge – 7/10
Daniel Sturridge did not score but his arrival offered Liverpool an incredible change in momentum. The Dortmund defenders could not track him as he turned, feinted and dribbled with the ball like a world class striker would.
Joe Allen – 9/10
Joe Allen was incredible after having come on. He offered energy and quality that was often missing in the middle of the park for Liverpool as he recycled the ball continually and darted forward till the very last minute of the game.
Lucas Leiva – N/A