Champions League Player Ratings: Debrecen 0-1 Liverpool

By Neil Jones

DEBRECEN

Poleksic - 7 - Perhaps a little slow to react for Ngog's opener, but denied the Frenchman twice in the first half, the second with a fine fingertip leap to his left. Made another fine stop from Gerrard in the second half and handled pretty well on a tricky pitch for goalkeepers.

Bodnar - 6 - Offered the hosts' main out-ball down the right, and delivered several quality crosses.

Mijadinoski - 5 - On his Champions League debut, the Swazi defender looked troubled by Ngog's liveliness and used the ball poorly.

Meszaros - 6 - Sloppy marking and passing, but made some telling, last-gasp tackles, notably on Gerrard.

Fodor - 5 - Slow to switch on to Liverpool's repeated short-corners, and was given a tough time by Kuyt, Johnson and Ngog, especially in the first half.

Szelesi - 5 - Booked for an aerial challenge with Gerrard, and found it hard to get a foot on the ball in the midfield. Worked hard but his lack of quality was exploited.

Kiss - 5 - Midfield battle by-passed the Debrecen skipper, who produced little befitting his reputation as one of Hungary's better midfielders.

Szakaly - 5 - Offered little as Debrecen's midfield were dominated by Mascherano and co.

Laczko - 6 - Showed some neat touches with the ball at his feet, and was the main source of threat

Rudolf - 7 - All of the home side's half chances fell to him, but he snatched at them. Clever movement occasionally made Reds' back-line looked lost, especially in the second half when he withdrew into a deeper role. Tested Reina with one outrageously angled effort.

SUBSTITUTES

Dombi - 6 - Introduced for last 10 minutes or so, and used the ball neatly from the right.

Coulibaly - 5 - Introduced to add a bit more threat to the home side, and did so without ever really threatening Reina's goal, until a glorious late chance fell to him, and he fluffed it.

LIVERPOOL

Pepe Reina - 6 - Nothing to do, one mis-kick and a couple of routine handling tests were the sum total of his evening's work.

Glen Johnson - 6 - Rarely troubled defensively, he offered plenty going forwards without ever really bombing on as we know he can.

Jamie Carragher - 6 - Grabbed an assist with a header across goal for Ngog early on and looked a threat regularly from set-pieces. Relatively untroubled night defensively, though he did afford one free header to Rudolf after misjudging the flight of a Bodnar cross.

Daniel Agger - 6 - Passing was mixed but he kept his head in defence despite heavy bandaging and looked to bring the ball forwards at times.

Emiliano Insua - 6 - Composed on the ball and keen to win it back high up the pitch, all of Debrecen's threat came from his flank though, which is becoming a common theme.

Lucas Leiva - 5 - Failed to grasp the game by the scruff of the neck after bright opening, passing was too often delayed or inaccurate and Liverpool lost momentum as a result.

Javier Mascherano - 7 - Is in top form, and dominated the midfield with his pace, energy and dynamism. Mopped up plenty of Lucas' sloppiness in the process.

Dirk Kuyt - 5 - 100 per cent commitment as usual, but his touch and quality was sorely lacking. A willing runner, but Liverpool need more from the Dutchman.

Steven Gerrard - 6 - Started with real drive and focus, but faded quickly. Might have netted with a couple of second half efforts and linked up well with Ngog.

Fabio Aurelio - 6 - Caused early discomfort for Debrecen with his delivery from wide, one of which led to the goal. Lacking match-fitness though, and faded fast.

David Ngog - 8 - The real positive to come from the game. A poacher's goal to start the night, and he was the biggest threat throughout. Those bemoaning Liverpool's lack of strikers could do well to take a closer look at the Frenchman.

SUBSTITUTES

Yossi Benayoun - 5 - Brought on for Ngog late on but had no impact

Alberto Aquilani - N/A - Bafflingly late arrival for the Italian.