After the sheer awfulness of the performance in the equivalent league game this was undeniably encouraging, especially a first half display that was dominant. It's hard to name negatives when you've beaten the league leaders away, but again it was disappointing not to score more goals in that first half and one raises the eyebrows slightly at such a blatantly defensive second half, although I guess you could say it worked and it certainly did its job. It must also be mentioned that Man City were absolutely dire throughout but you can only do your own job.
Player ratings:
Reina - 6
Virtually nothing to do but dependable as ever
Kelly - 7
The most underrated young player in the Premiership? Another excellent display
Johnson - 7
Unusually defensively sound as well as good going forward although lucky to escape punishment for a two footed tackle
Agger - 7
Coped well with any threats
Skrtel - 6
A very occasional lapse but by and large a good show
Henderson - 6
Solid if unspectacular
Downing - 6
Still lacking a crucial creativity
Gerrard - 8
Immense, god we've missed him!
Spearing - 7
Did well until his injury
Bellamy - 7
Another lively game, what a nightmare to play against
Carroll - 6
Not his worst game this season and to be fair was heavily isolated in the second half
Subs:
Adam - 7
Lively and combative
Jose Enrique - 8
Excellent defensive work
Carragher - 7
I've always quite liked Carra as a defensive midfielder and he really added some solidity when he came on
Man City:
Hart - 7
Richards - 6
Lescott - 5
Savic - 4
Clichy - 6
Milner - 6
Johnson - 5
Barry - 5
De Jong - 6
Aguero - 5
Balotelli - 3
Subs:
Nasri - 5
Dzeko - 5
Kolarov - 5
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