Champions League: Atalanta v Liverpool player ratings

Champions League: Atalanta v Liverpool player ratings
The whole team put in a five star performance, with some shining more than the others

Liverpool put in a five star performance as they put five past Atalanta away. Atalanta couldn’t score for the first time in over a year as Liverpool’s defense and Allison kept them at bay. Klopp made a change and started Diogo Jota instead of Roberto Firmino and reaped huge rewards. Jota scored a hat-trick as Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah scored a goal each. Here we rate the performances of the Liverpool players.

Performance Ratings

Alisson Becker- 7

He had a quiet match as Atalanta lacked tooth in attack and most of their attacks were cut off by Joe Gomez and Rhys Williams. However he was called up more than once as Duvan Zapata and Muriel managed to get some shots in. One of the latter’s shots was fumbled by him, but he managed to save it in the end.

His presence has always been a calming presence for the backline and his distribution was good as usual. With a backline that is missing their talisman Virgil Van Dijk, his experience will be most needed.

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Trent Alexander Arnold- 7.5

He has improved massively in his defensive duties but those exploits have gone under the radar. He is yet to return to his offensive best as his assists show, but he got one today. He delivered a perfect weighted through ball and Diogo Jota raced forward to open Liverpool’s account of the night. He’s shown maturity beyond years and has taken the lead to inspire Rhys Williams. One day he will definitely become Liverpool’s captain and lead just like Steven Gerrard and Jordan Henderson.

Rhys Williams- 10

An absolutely brilliant performance as the Liverpool youngster showed his class. Last season he was playing non-league football and this season he’s playing in the Champions League. He was drafted in as a replacement for Virgil Van Dijk and has filled in that position without a fault. Just like Nathaniel Phillips against West Ham, Rhys Williams didn’t put a foot wrong against Atalanta. He had a 100% tackle success rate and 92% passing accuracy. He was assured in the air and provided the security they need to protect set pieces.

Rhys Williams is one to look out for in the future and with the perfect guidance can genuinely become a world class talent.

Joe Gomez- 7

He has had the job of anchoring Liverpool’s defense in the absence of Virgil Van Dijk. He has had three different partners this season and continues to excel. When around him Fabinho and Joel Matip have fallen to injuries, he has lead the charge with Nathaniel Phillips first and now Rhys Williams. He has the additional task of guiding the inexperienced latter and will look to come out of VVD’s shadow himself. This is the time for Joe Gomez to come out of the shadows and stake his claim as an important player in the squad.

Andy Robertson- 7

Energetic as usual and kept bombing up the pitch as usual. He linked up well with both Sadio Mane and Diogo Jota as the three of them wreaked havoc on the left side of the pitch. As the eldest member of the backline, he has the natural duty of sharing his experience with the other young defenders. Didn’t get an assist, but was defensively solid.

Georginio Wijnaldum- 7

Tired doesn’t seem to be a word he recognizes it would seem as he kept running through the match. He put on the usual display of his tricks in the middle of the ground and spreading the passes. Could do better if he did some forward passes instead of passing sideways always. Creative with his movement, he can create something out of nothing once he is allowed to go forward. One can only imagine what will happen when Thiago returns.

Curtis Jones- 7.5

Arguably one of his best performances since he was drafted last season to represent the senior team. He’s shed his naivety and nervousness and started to boss the midfield battle in this match. Jurgen Klopp has shown immense faith in him and started him in all three of Liverpool’s Champions League match. Curtis Jones made a lot of forward runs and made more forward passes than before. His assist to Mohamed Salah is laudable for his vision to spot him. It was perfectly hit to so Salah could use his pace to get the ball. Jones can only improve from here if he is consistent.

Jordan Henderson- 7.5

More than Virgil Van Dijk or Alisson, Liverpool feels the absence of Jordan Henderson the most. Whenever he is present on the field his never give up attitude comes out and affects his fellow players too. He’s the heart of the team and everything he does has an effect on the team. When Sadio Mane made that delightful pass to Jota to complete his hat-trick, it was Henderson’s voice that was heard the loudest as he shouted “Oh, what a pass. What a pass!”. Things like these make you transcend from being a captain to a leader, and then to a legend!

Sadio Mane- 7.5

On his day he can boss any defence he sets his eyes on. He terrorises them with his link up play with Roberston, with Firmino and now with Jota. The only thing is he is always on his day. Mane and Salah look like transformed players this season as they don’t score goals too often. Yet their influence on the match has improved to gargantuan amounts. This has obviously benefitted Liverpool as they score goals to dig themselves out now. The wins are coming and Mane has an important play in it. His energy and strength is most required as he throws away opponents and creatively dismantles teams along with Salah and Jota.

Diogo Jota- 9

Sooner or later we’re going to run out of words to describe Diogo Jota. In Thiago’s absence he has been the best signing Liverpool has made this summer as he bangs in goals left and right. He’s adept in using both his feet and has the pace too. He showed immense strength to throw off his marker to open Liverpool’s account. He dribbles well enough and makes sudden movements to find space for himself. He attacks and presses, he dispossesses opponents and scores goals for fun. Jota has scored 6 goals in the last 10 days against in four matches and that speaks volumes of his talent. It is a surprise that Wolves let him go as he’s turning out to be a bargain for 41 million. Jota is on course to equal Salah’s scoring record in the 2017/18 season and only time will tell about it.

Mohamed Salah- 7.5

Jordan Henderson heaped praise on Salah by saying that he is in a better form than he was in the 2017/18 season. Salah scored 44 goals across all competitions for Liverpool that season and the captain’s words is true. When you’re better than your record scoring season, it means that you’ve evolved as a player. Both Salah and Mane have evolved and became better, allowing Diogo Jota to do the scoring duties. This is going to one fun filled season for this Liverpool team as there seems to be an evolution occurring.

Also read: Atalanta v Liverpool match report