Liverpool were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Aston Villa on Saturday, with too many players struggling in a lackluster performance
In terms of their Premier League top-four chances, the Reds knew that only a win at Anfield would suffice, but that never looked likely.
Ollie Watkins missed a penalty in the first half, but Jacob Ramsey put Villa ahead soon after, before Roberto Firmino equalized late on in his final home game for Liverpool.
Despite their late rally, Liverpool had a really bad day, so it’s only fair to start with the worst performers.
Jordan Henderson (4.8) had a bad afternoon, providing little quality and allowing the game to pass him by.
This was a performance that reflected the captain’s season, with his best years clearly behind him and an upgrade in his position required.
According to Ian Doyle of the Echo, Henderson’s “inconsistent distribution” was ultimately his biggest problem, with far too many crosses failing to find their intended target.
GOAL’s Neil Jones was harsher on the 32-year-old, calling him “not up to scratch with or without the ball” and saying he “did well to last as long as he did.”
Luis Diaz (5.3) finished second-last, still looking for his best form after a lengthy injury layoff.
According to TIA’s Henry Jackson, the Colombian “ran down blind alleys and lost the ball,” and his all-around touch is “not quite there currently.”
Curtis Jones (5.4) also failed to replicate his recent form, as he was part of a Liverpool midfield that was frequently out-battled by Villa’s middle men.
Doyle felt the youngster “became bogged down and started to lose the ball more frequently” after a strong start, while FotMob noted that he only won six of 14 ground duels.
However, Alisson (7.0) and Virgil van Dijk (7.0) were excellent for the Reds, sharing the highest average rating.
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