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Liverpool Echo

Sport

Ian Doyle

Alisson Becker truth alarmingly clear as two Liverpool undroppables massively underwhelm

Liverpool Alisson Becker Jurgen Klopp Diogo Jota Jordan Henderson Luis Diaz EPL

So far, so meh. A strange season has started in difficult fashion for Liverpool as they continue to adjust to a new-look squad in a demanding environment.

With a squad often decimated by injuries and a number of key players having been massively out of form, the Reds are already effectively out of the Premier League title race after 14 games and face a proper scrap to secure a top-four place.

There have, though, been signs of a revival, with Jurgen Klopp's side having progressed to the last 16 of both the Champions League and the Carabao Cup before the shutdown for the World Cup.

The ECHO has been rating Liverpool's players throughout their 22 games this season, marking them out of 10 for every appearance in which they played for at least 15 minutes.

Here, then, we assess the campaign of each player, using their average ratings as a guide. Hold on to your hats, folks.

The men who impressed

Not a single player had averaged a rating of at least seven by the last international break in late September. And it's perhaps a sign of how matters have subsequently improved slightly that two players have edged themselves up to that mark.

Alisson Becker (7.00) has been undoubtedly Liverpool's best player of the season - which perhaps should sound as a note of caution to Klopp - while Luis Diaz (7.00) was in impressive form before his campaign was halted through injury.

Mohamed Salah (6.90) has hit his stride after an indifferent start and already has 14 goals, while in recent weeks Andy Robertson (6.80) has been excellent having benefited from an enforced break due to a knee problem.

Holding their own

The almost regular availability of Thiago Alcantara (6.79) is making a difference to both the team and the player, and Darwin Nunez (6.76) has banished his uncertain opening steps with some encouraging outings of late to bump up his average rating considerably.

The score of Harvey Elliott (6.70) is all the more admirable given the youngster has earned a rating in all but two games this season, and only once has dipped below a seven in the last 10 games.

Virgil van Dijk (6.48) may not quite be at his very best level but has still been reliable, while both Roberto Firmino (6.38) and Kostas Tsimikas (6.33) have provided goals and assists at a sufficient rate.

Consistently inconsistent

A number of players have, for varying reasons, found it difficult to find a steady run of form, epitomised by Joe Gomez (6.20) who was man of the match against Manchester City but hugely disappointing at Nottingham Forest the following week.

James Milner (6.14) has been solid enough when called upon, Jordan Henderson (6.13) has had his minutes managed due to injury niggles while Fabio Carvalho (6.10) continues to adapt to the step up to the Premier League.

Both Trent Alexander-Arnold (5.95) and Fabinho (5.95) have massively underwhelmed for the most part, but have shown clear signs of improvement in the last few weeks.

On the fringes

Liverpool's injury worries have been such that some players haven't played enough games to have their overall form considered, with summer signings Calvin Ramsay and Arthur Melo in particular impacted.

Joel Matip (6.71) did well in his seven scoring games until joining the busy treatment room, while Ibrahima Konate (7.00) has two ratings of eight in his four appearances to date.

Diogo Jota (6.57) had made a positive impact before his serious calf problem while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (6.00) and Curtis Jones (6.00) are feeling their way back after long spells on the sidelines.

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