Missed chances cost Liverpool as United turntables in North West Clasico

It was day which saw any flickering hopes of Champions League qualification through the Premiership unceremoniously exposed and extinguished through top class finishing, Liverpool’s profligacy in front of goal and our embarrassingly hopeless defence.

The three-nil score-line may seem lopsided given the measure of Liverpool’s dominance, but chances were squandered with Sterling and Balotelli the main culprits.  The performance was immeasurably better attacking wise, but in basic terms it was no different to last season, but without the devastating finishing.   This was the type of game with a finisher of some description we may have won 6-3.

The decision to remove Adam Lallana at the break seemed incomprehensible with the England International one of the few creative outlets.  Glen Johnson also left the field before half-time with a groin injury to be replaced by Kolo Toure.   Liverpool’s high pressing game all but disappeared as soon as Wayne Rooney gave Man United the lead against the run of the play.

The goal said everything that is wrong about Liverpool.  Areas of quality negated by total ineptness around the pitch.  Lallana played a superb reverse ball to Sterling who on the turn shot meekly at De Gea with the goal at his mercy and within 25 seconds the ball was nestling in the back of the Liverpool net.

Valencia literally sauntered by after nutmegging Allen in the left back position with Moreno close by failing to cover.  The winger playing at wing-back pulled the ball back to the unchallenged Rooney, left by Coutinho to pass the ball into the net with Brad Jones, having come in for Mignolet, inexplicably diving the wrong way.

Millions spent and the defence is if anything less secure which is going some.  Lucas in front of the defence provided some assemblance of security which is why his absence from the starting line-up appeared a risky ploy with Brendan Rodgers aching to get back to the technical essence and brilliance of last season.

A clinical striker would have propelled Liverpool to victory, which only makes it difficult to work out why with Liverpool’s well documented problems in front of goal, Borini has fallen out of favour and why a youngster has yet to be promoted to the first team bench especially with Brendan looking to increase the tempo and fluidity into upfront.

The second goal was blatantly off-side, but Mata’s run was criminally untracked by Moreno.  The young Spaniard has been lax in his defensive duties and is more concerned with going forward rather being a left-back first and foremost.

De Gea was excellent and his man of the match award shows just how dominant Liverpool were, but it also highlighted the disappointing nature of our finishing.   The shots (9 on target) were all close or straight at De Gea lacking procession and Sterling’s lamentable tame finish one on one with the goalkeeper hints at a lack of confidence even having rounded the keeper.

Dejan Lovren’s season of mediocrity hit new heights.  The defender miscued his clearance into the path of Mata, who calmly found Van Persie to close out the game.

The difference between the sides was finishing.  One side can and one cannot.

Liverpool player ratings:

Jones 5 His diving the wrong way for the first goal seemed almost farcical

Johnson 5 Played in a back three, didn’t seem comfortable. Ricked a groin before half-time

Sktrel 4 Struggled to deal with the movement of Van Persie and Wilson

Lovren 3 It’s time he was taken out of the firing line.  The comical nature of his attempted clearance shows just how far he has fallen

Henderson 5 The wider role he is being asked to play has impacted on his effectiveness

Gerrard 5 A couple of excellent passes, otherwise the game bypassed him

Allen 3 Was lucky not to have been hooked at half-time having been asked to play a role which saw him up against Valencia

Moreno 3 Very little added value going forward or back

Coutinho 4 Started well and then disappeared after the first goal and his failure to track Rooney’s run is something he has to improve on

Sterling 7 Best player by a country mile and will be disappointed not to have at least bagged a brace

Lallana 6 Disappointingly substituted at the break after looking one of the most effective creative options

Toure 4 Was part of a very poor defensive unit in the second-half

Markovic 5 Unlucky not to start, but the game was lost by the time he entered the fray

Balotelli 5 Like Sterling could and should have had at least two goals