{"id":3224,"date":"2024-10-28T14:21:28","date_gmt":"2024-10-28T14:21:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hotnews.azontree.com\/?p=3224"},"modified":"2024-10-28T14:21:40","modified_gmt":"2024-10-28T14:21:40","slug":"player-rating-arsenal-2-2-liverpool-konate-becomes-a-duel-monster-luis-diaz-has-a-big-trouble","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hotnews.azontree.com\/?p=3224","title":{"rendered":"PLAYER RATING: Arsenal 2-2 Liverpool: Konate becomes a Duel Monster; Luis Diaz has a BIG trouble"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Liverpool\u2019s winning run came to an end but they rescued a 2-2 draw late on against Arsenal, in what was not one of the Reds\u2019 better showings this season.<\/p>\n

Here is how we rated the Liverpool players\u2026<\/p>\n

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\"H\u00ecnh<\/p>\n

Caoimhin Kelleher \u2013 6<\/p>\n

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Anyway, absolutely no chance with the opener, Saka blamming it in high and hard, and even less with the second.<\/p>\n

In between, his footwork was good and he took a few claims. One decent save high up from Jesus late on but not a game where he had to do loads\u2026 aside from the goals.<\/p>\n

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Trent Alexander-Arnold \u2013 6<\/p>\n

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One of his worst games, the day after his talk about wanting to win the Ballon d\u2019Or.<\/p>\n

And yet, we saw why he potentially could: that incredible ability to pick passes and create chances, even on a bad day, which led to him producing two passes here \u2013 neither assists, both leading to goals.<\/p>\n

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Otherwise it was a story of poor passing, not his best defensive work and certainly nothing to mark him out as captain material, in terms of lifting the team.<\/p>\n

Ibrahima Konate \u2013 8 \u2013 Man of the match<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Missed an interception early on but made a couple of big challenges including getting a thigh to a bouncing ball in the area with Martinelli lingering dangerously. Great recovery pace to shut down the same player in the channel soon after.<\/p>\n

Arsenal\u2018s set-piece ingenuity meant nobody was really marking individuals when the second goal went in, but Merino ended up between Konate and Jones but with nobody anywhere near him. Solid and consistent throughout, however.<\/p>\n

Virgil van Dijk \u2013 7<\/p>\n

\"H\u00ecnh<\/p>\n

A question over whether he should have been covering closer to Robertson for the opener \u2013 or made up ground quicker \u2013 but reacted by pinging a great pass which won a corner and then headed it in to level.<\/p>\n

Van Dijk, the team\u2019s leader, must be the one to prevent the team\u2019s frequent errors or giving them away in the first place. The back line was not satisfied defending set pieces, despite their general assurance under pressure in open play. Near the end, he made a huge defensive header, but he could have done more.<\/p>\n

Andy Robertson \u2013 5<\/p>\n

\"TR\u1ef0C<\/p>\n

Beaten all ends up by Saka at the first time of asking to lead to a goal in very Salah style. Struggled not just for pace but for agility on the turn too.<\/p>\n

No surprise when he was subbed off; a slight improvement second half but Robertson looks one of the weaker links in this team at present.<\/p>\n

Ryan Gravenberch \u2013 7<\/p>\n

Too often bypassed and marginalised in the first half; won his share of battles, but not involved enough and certainly not on the ball in a progressive sense.<\/p>\n

An improved player in the second half, a bit more aggressive<\/p>\n

Alexis Mac Allister \u2013 6<\/p>\n

\"Liverpool<\/p>\n

Overrun in the centre, booked for hauling down Saka and generally looked off the pace as Arsenal swarmed Liverpool. Not at all up to his usual level of composure, control or ability to influence the match.<\/p>\n

Curtis Jones \u2013 6<\/p>\n

Played further forward for Szoboszlai in this match, although his effect in that position was not as great as it was in deeper zones against Chelsea.<\/p>\n

After the substitutes, he dropped back downfield and became a little more engaged after struggling to overcome several obstacles in a constrained area of the field. Again, it wasn\u2019t a very good performance, but there was a lot of effort.<\/p>\n

Mohamed Salah \u2013 7<\/p>\n

\"Liverpool<\/p>\n

Really poor effort when presented with a surprise chance 15 minutes in. Played the part of playmaker in the first half, trying to hold up and feed into others rather than being any threat on goal himself.<\/p>\n

A little more involved second half when Liverpool were on top and eventually got the chance he wanted \u2013 and buried it late on. Moved level with Fowler for Premier League goals.<\/p>\n

Darwin Nunez \u2013 6<\/p>\n

\"Hai<\/p>\n

Extremely hard-working and loads of first-half running; the problem was, most of it was in the right-back or left-back area, not as an out-ball or running behind Arsenal\u2018s defence.<\/p>\n

But he produced a moment which mattered: a strong run into the channel and a perfect square pass to find Salah for the equaliser.<\/p>\n

Luis Diaz \u2013 5<\/p>\n

\"Liverpool<\/p>\n

Got the nod for left wing and he really would have expected to have more success in a direct battle with stand-in right-back Thomas Partey.<\/p>\n

Diaz claimed the assist with a flicked header for Van Dijk, but is way off his early-season form right now. Didn\u2019t really support Robertson first half either when he struggled against Saka.<\/p>\n

His first half was a disaster defensively; dispossessed twice, lost 11 of 16 duels, committed four fouls \u2013 one for the second goal \u2013 and lost two tackles.<\/p>\n

Substitutes<\/strong><\/p>\n

Szoboszlai (on for Mac Allister, 62\u2032) \u2013 6 \u2013 Sloppy initially after coming on. Better work rate thereafter but no end product.<\/p>\n

Tsimikas (on for Robertson, 62\u2032) \u2013 6 \u2013 Defended a bit better than Robertson one on one but not a lot of support play going forward.<\/p>\n

Gakpo (on for Diaz, 62\u2032) \u2013 5 \u2013 No great impact down the left this time.<\/p>\n

Endo (on for Jones, 90\u2032) \u2013 * \u2013 On for seven minutes of injury time.<\/p>\n

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