Liverpool Player Reviews

After most Liverpool matches I'll provide a brief review of each player's performance. In addition, when I watch a match, I'll try and focus more on one player (that I'll pick prior to the match), and go in depth on that player and his performance. Today's player, Alvaro Arbeloa.

In Focus: Alvaro Arbeloa

The In Focus player today is right back Alvaro Arbeloa. Spanish international, Arbeloa has been a favorite of Rafa Benitez's for some time now, and honestly, I don't know why. Today he was pretty lackluster once again. Within the first ten minutes, he had already lost two balls in the air and gotten beaten to two other balls. His tackling was sloppy from the get go, resulting in a Standard free kick that should have been his ball.

His transitional passing from right back to the midfielders is usually pretty effective, but not tonight. His passing was off and he set Gerrard and Alonso off on the ball several times. One play in particular in which he got the ball on the right and with an open Gerrard in the middle, he forced the ball in his end to Kuyt, resulting in an odd man rush down the field that Skrtel put an end to. Arbeloa does not cross field possession very well and tonight was no different. He was never really effective in getting it over to the left.

The one reason that Rafa loves him so much is his controlled run ins on the offensive end. He does get onto the ball well when filling in the space for Kuyt, but after he got there, he did nothing. He didn't work the ball into the middle very well, and his crosses were never something for Standard to worry about.

He did play a little better in the second half and even fired one from 30 yards that gave the outstretched Aragon a lot of trouble. Please Rafa, start Finnan! Or even give Degen a shot. I can't watch Arbeloa get dominated anymore.

Grade: D

Player Grades
Pepe Reina- A
Reina was solid, as usual. He distributed the ball nicely, with only a couple of hiccups. He made a few extended stops on dangerous shots, but his key contribution was his great control of the ball in the air off crosses, free kicks, and corners. He was on nearly every ball with a grab or a punch out.
Fabio Aurelio- B+
Another good game from Aurelio. He was excellent in the first half. His free kick was a perfect bender that had to be punched away by the Standard keeper, and his distribution and crosses were efficient. Fabio is an underrated defender, who is good in the air for his size, and rarely gets beat one on one. If only we could play him and Dossena at the same time.
Jamie Carragher- A-
Carragher held the back line firm tonight. He is constantly quarterbacking the defense, whether defending a set play, or when they are working the ball up. He cut off a lot of attacks tonight with a swift clearance. His coordination with Skrtel was a little off early, but he got it together.
Martin Skrtel- B
Skrtel started out the game shaky, losing his man a couple of times, and stepping up a little early, but overall it was another good performance. He really looks like he could become a star with a little more seasoning. He makes good paced runs going forward and his timing seems to improve defensively, as the game wears on.
Dirk Kuyt- B
Oh Dirk, you are a roller coaster ride. Dirk did more of what Dirk does. He ran all over the place, outworking defenders and midfielders to win the ball, only to lose it with a errant pass or bad touch. Then he puts in the game winner. It's hard to say where his place should be in the team, but he's a good player to have in your rotation.
Steven Gerrard- B
Gerrard is still struggling with a thigh injury, which limited his trademark runs and give and go plays. He mainly distributed from a central position along with Xabi Alonso, and sent a couple of rockets flying over the bar. His crosses were descent, even though none really connected. Hopefully the skipper heals soon and is back in top form.
Xabi Alonso- C+
Xabi was an okay fulcrum in midfield today. His passes were tight and efficient, but his long range passing was pretty dreadful. I don't know if it was lack of communication and cohesion with the forwards, but not one of his trademark long balls was run on to.
Yossi Benayoun- C
Yossi did some good outside-in work, but nothing really came from it. He had one chance in close, but should of laid off to Torres, instead he flubbed a shot slowly towards the keeper. It's all or nothing on most days with him, he either makes a spectacular play or two, or he is subbed.
Robbie Keane- F
Oh, Robbie Keane! He was so lost out on the pitch tonight. He looked like a deer in the headlights every time he touched the ball. It seems as though he is thinking too much. Robbie needs to play instinctively, and he is not doing so. Had a great opportunity in the box that he totally mistimed.
Fernando Torres- C
Torres was, for the most part, shut down all afternoon by the Standard defense. Onyewu was all over him and Adama Sarr picked up the slack when Oguchi couldn't. Every deke he made was thwarted, and his two positive runs with the ball into the box, ended with deflected shots that lost their pace. El Nino looked really frustrated towards the end of the game.
Ryan Babel- B
Babel came on in the 61st minute, and failed to put a lot of pressure on the right side of the Standard defense, preferring to cut back into the middle and dish off most of the time. His cross from far left to provide the game winner was magic.
Nabil El Zhar- B
El Zhar came on late in the game and provided a little spark, dipping into the defense a couple of times. With some more experience, he could be a good attacking replacement on the right for Kuyt at the end of games.

Man of the Match: Dirk Kuyt