LIVERPOOL PLAYER RATINGS: Dominik Szoboszlai impresses
LIVERPOOL PLAYER RATINGS: Diogo Jota and Dominik Szoboszlai impress but Ibrahima Konate struggles as Liverpool beat Leicester 4-0 in a friendly in Singapore
- Liverpool beat Leicester 4-0 in a pre-season friendly in Singapore on Sunday
- Diogo Jota was impressive for Liverpool but Ibrahima Konate struggled
- Mail Sport assesses the performances of each Liverpool player v Leicester
Liverpool continued their pre-season preparations with a 4-0 victory over Leicester in Singapore.
Darwin Nunez opened the scoring, with Bobby Clark, Diogo Jota and Ben Doak also getting on the scoresheet.
Mail Sport’s Lewis Steele assesses how each of Jurgen Klopp’s players got on.
Caoimhin Kelleher – 7
Although the first half ended with Liverpool three goals ahead, Leicester had the better of the early chances and Kelleher was key to stopping the Foxes going into the lead. The Irishman, still just 24, denied Wilfried Ndidi and Kasey McAteer with clear-cut chances early on.
Trent Alexander-Arnold – 7
The Englishman had played the first two matches of this pre-season in midfield and though he was named as a conventional right-back on the team-sheet here, he rarely popped up there. He dominated the game from central areas, though he did look slightly overwhelmed defensively.
Trent Alexander-Arnold dominated the game from central areas against the Foxes
Ibrahima Konate – 4
Fingers were pointed at the Frenchman last Monday when Liverpool looked shaky at the back in a 4-4 draw with German second-tier outfit Greuther Furth. And this again was less than convincing against another second-tier team. Leicester cut Liverpool apart three times early on.
Ibrahima Konate was less than convincing during Liverpool’s friendly against Leicester
Virgil Van Dijk – 5
A big season for Van Djik who wore the captain’s armband while on the pitch here and is expected to take up full-time skipper duties. The defence as a whole looked too open in the first half an hour but Van Dijk’s passing was tidy.
Andy Robertson – 6
Alexander-Arnold’s move into midfield – be it a permanent switch or an in-game change – has a knock-on effect on many players including Robertson, who now must be more reserved when bombing forward.
Curtis Jones – 6.5
Asked to play as a deep-lying midfielder, Jones did little wrong with the ball and was a good connecting route between defence and attack. Leicester made many runs from deep – Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Wilfried Ndidi mainly – and perhaps Jones could have stopped them more.
Bobby Clark – 7.5
The 18-year-old from Epsom raced into the box on every opportunity and took his goal extremely well, swivelling into the finish. Clark looks comfortable in tight spaces and perhaps could have had more than one goal if he had a bit more composure with an earlier chance.
Talented youngster Bobby Clark was very direct and scored Liverpool’s second goal
Alexis Mac Allister – 7
A decent afternoon for the World Cup winner but a few tidy passes. He joked to Liverpool’s official website this week that his team-mates have failed to get the nickname ‘Gary’ to stick – a nod to Reds legend Gary McAllister. He could be perfect for this side.
Skilful new signing Alexis Mac Allister produced an impressive performance for Liverpool
Mo Salah – 6.5
His assist for Jota’s header was a delightful cross and it seems defenders still cannot cope with his quick feet. On one occasion, Salah skipped past a number of Leicester players with a Maradona turn.
Darwin Nunez – 7
Had the ball in the net in the first 10 minutes with a lovely finish but was ruled offside, but showed predatory skills to be in the right place at the right time to score for real later in the half. After two clinical strikes in Germany last week, this has been a very positive pre-season.
Diogo Jota – 7.5
A fine 45 minutes for Jota, who did not make the squad for 16 of 38 Premier League matches last season. The Portuguese forward scored one with a clever glanced header, after he had assisted Liverpool’s second. His versatility will be key this coming campaign.
Diogo Jota got on the scoresheet as Liverpool ran out 4-0 winners versus Leicester
SUBSTITUTIONS
Joe Gomez – 6
Still only 26, Gomez is now Liverpool’s longest-serving first-team player after making his debut in 2015. If Alexander-Arnold is to play more regularly in midfield, right-back Gomez could be an important player this season.
Joel Matip – 6
Now 31, Matip is one that will have to step into the leadership void left behind by the exits of experienced professionals Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Roberto Firmino. He looked to be doing that in the second half here, constantly talking to young Jarell Quansah next to him.
Jarell Quansah – 7
The 20-year-old from Warrington has gained valuable experiences by spending a pre-season with Jurgen Klopp after a stint at Bristol Rovers last year. Quansah made a tremendous last-ditch tackle to deny Patson Daka a goal at 4-0.
Youngster Jarell Quansah made a tremendous last-ditch tackle to deny Leiceter’s Patson Daka
Kostas Tsimikas – 6
A good 45 minutes in the legs for the Greek full-back but very little to do, with Leicester’s attacks few and far between in the second half.
James McConnell – 6
By trade McConnell is a more advanced No 8 midfielder but he played in a deeper-lying position here, which shows important tactical versatility of the 18-year-old.
Dominik Szoboszlai – 7
The Hungarian is back after rolling his ankle and missing a few days of on-pitch work last week and was a bright spark in the second half. His corner set up the Reds’ fourth and his next set-piece was equally as venomous, which could be a real weapon for Klopp and Co.
Summer arrival Dominik Szoboszlai gave a good account of himself as Liverpool prevailed
Harvey Elliott – 6
The youngster will be buoyed by starring at England’s Under 21s European Championships success in Georgia this summer and Liverpool fans will hope those exploits will help Elliott kick on this season. This was a positive outing.
Ben Doak – 6.5
One of the most highly rated of the Liverpool youngsters, Doak was in the right place at the right time to head home his side’s fourth. The Scotsman, who grew up in Celtic’s academy, is just 17 and looks set for a big future.
Luis Diaz – 6
The Colombian will feel like a new signing for Liverpool this season after missing most of the last campaign injured. Diaz perhaps could have gone through to score in the second half when facing up to a defender but was harshly penalised for a foul.
Luis Diaz will feel like a new signing for Liverpool fans after his injury struggles last season
Cody Gakpo – 6
A quiet outing for Dutchman Gakpo but he will be looking forward to his first full season at Liverpool after his mid-season transfer last term. He used the summer to switch off after a long campaign for club and country last term – and Gakpo visited his father’s homeland Togo.
Alisson – 6.5
Looked commanding as ever after replacing Kelleher on the hour mark, and played a trademark ball over the top out of his hands for Luis Diaz which could have resulted in a goal on another day. The Brazilian got the biggest cheer of all Liverpool substitutes.
Calum Scanlon – NA
Not enough time to judge. Replaced Szoboszlai with 10 minutes to play.
Malkamu Frauendorf – NA
Not enough time to judge. Replaced Quansah with five minutes to play.
UNUSED SUBSTITUTES: Adrian, Fabian Mrozek, Lewis Koumas
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