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Premier League Player Ratings: Liverpool 4-1 Portsmouth
Aquilani shines as Reds get back on song.
Mar 15, 2010 6:00:00 PM
By Neil Jones
LIVERPOOL
Pepe Reina - 7 - One early flap aside, the Spaniard was his usual assured self. Made a fine one-handed stop from Brown in the second half.
Glen Johnson - 7.5 - His kind of game, one in which he was allowed to get forward at will. Peppered the Pompey box with dangerous crosses, and was given a deserved ovation when replaced by Kelly with 20 minutes to go.
Jamie Carragher - 7 - Helped by Pompey's reluctance to commit many men forward, but used the ball well and had a very comfortable evening.
Daniel Agger - 7 - Relatively untroubled by the isolated Piquionne as Liverpool dominated.
Emiliano Insúa - 7 - Keen to get forward and whip crosses in. They weren't always of the best quality but he will be pleased with his night's work.
Javier Mascherano - 8 - Not as spectacular as Gerrard and co, but his passing and sheer willingness to accept possession started the bulk of Liverpool's attacks.
Alberto Aquilani - 9 - Unlucky with a fine volley on the run early on, but grabbed his first goal for the club with a fine left-foot finish. Was instrumental in all Liverpool's best attacks, and created Torres' second with a brilliant pass.
Maxi Rodríguez - 7 - Involved in some good triangles down the right, and set up Torres for the opener with a simple square pass.
Steven Gerrard - 8 - Sent the first meaningful effort of the night over the bar, and showed great tenacity to close down Ashdown to create the opening goal. Heavily involved in Aquilani's goal with a nice body feint, and went close to a goal of his own before half-time.
Ryan Babel - 8 - Took his goal very well. Looked a little predictable when running at defenders, but the Dutchman is playing well enough to consider himself a regular now. Hit the bar in the second half and produced perhaps his most consistent 90 minute performance in a Red shirt.
Fernando Torres - 9 - Back on the scoresheet with a cool finish on 26 minutes, and then created Babel's a couple of minutes later. His back-heel opened up Pompey for Aquilani to score soon after, and he clattered the post in a frantic end to the first half. Grabbed a second after the break with a fine finish, and was replaced by Ngog to rapturous applause.
Substitutes
David Ngog - N/A - Late sub for Torres.
Yossi Benayoun - N/A - Replaced Gerrard late on.
Martin Kelly - 6 - Given a relaxing 20 minutes in place of Johnson.
PORTSMOUTH
Jamie Ashdown - 4 - Caught on the ball for Liverpool's opener, and looked nervy whenever the ball was at his feet. Made one fingertip save to deny Babel, but dropped a cross soon after and will want to forget his night's work.
Steve Finnan - 5 - The former Reds full-back was twisted inside out by Torres for the second goal and struggled to cope with Babel.
Marc Wilson - 5 - Put his goalkeeper under pressure for Liverpool's opening goal, and struggled against a rampant Torres.
Ricardo Rocha - 4 - Survived an early penalty appeal for handball, but failed to get tight enough to Torres or Gerrard.
Hermann Hreidarsson - 5 - Gave Maxi Rodriguez and Johnson too much time down the right hand side, and conceded too many free kicks.
Papa Bouba Diop - 4 - Was bypassed by the impeccable Aquilani in midfield, and replaced by Mokoena just after the hour.
Michael Brown - 5 - Escaped with a few clumsy challenges on Gerrard, one in the penalty area. Denied by Reina after the break, he was also clattered by Gerrard with a flailing arm.
Aruna Dindane - 5.5 - Pace offered Pompey's best outlet, but he saw too little of the ball to be of any use.
Jamie O'Hara - 5 - Guilty of diving in for Babel's goal, the on-loan midfielder grew visibly disillusioned as the game wore on.
Nadir Belhadj - 6 - Talented, but spent the game very much in the shadows, and offered little protection to his full-back, though he did create one chance for Brown after burning off Johnson down the left. Lucky not to concede a penalty after a reckless foul on the same player. Picked up a late consolation.
Frédéric Piquionne - 5 - Dragged Portsmouth's only chance of the first half wide as he toiled alone up front. Set up Belhadj's late consolation.
Substitutes
Danny Webber - N/A - On for O'Hara in the dying stages.
Quincy Owusu-Abeyie - N/A - Replaced Hreidarsson late on.
Aaron Mokoena - 5 - On for Diop with the game already over.
Pepe Reina - 7 - One early flap aside, the Spaniard was his usual assured self. Made a fine one-handed stop from Brown in the second half.
Glen Johnson - 7.5 - His kind of game, one in which he was allowed to get forward at will. Peppered the Pompey box with dangerous crosses, and was given a deserved ovation when replaced by Kelly with 20 minutes to go.
Jamie Carragher - 7 - Helped by Pompey's reluctance to commit many men forward, but used the ball well and had a very comfortable evening.
Daniel Agger - 7 - Relatively untroubled by the isolated Piquionne as Liverpool dominated.
Emiliano Insúa - 7 - Keen to get forward and whip crosses in. They weren't always of the best quality but he will be pleased with his night's work.
Javier Mascherano - 8 - Not as spectacular as Gerrard and co, but his passing and sheer willingness to accept possession started the bulk of Liverpool's attacks.
Alberto Aquilani - 9 - Unlucky with a fine volley on the run early on, but grabbed his first goal for the club with a fine left-foot finish. Was instrumental in all Liverpool's best attacks, and created Torres' second with a brilliant pass.
Maxi Rodríguez - 7 - Involved in some good triangles down the right, and set up Torres for the opener with a simple square pass.
Steven Gerrard - 8 - Sent the first meaningful effort of the night over the bar, and showed great tenacity to close down Ashdown to create the opening goal. Heavily involved in Aquilani's goal with a nice body feint, and went close to a goal of his own before half-time.
Ryan Babel - 8 - Took his goal very well. Looked a little predictable when running at defenders, but the Dutchman is playing well enough to consider himself a regular now. Hit the bar in the second half and produced perhaps his most consistent 90 minute performance in a Red shirt.
Fernando Torres - 9 - Back on the scoresheet with a cool finish on 26 minutes, and then created Babel's a couple of minutes later. His back-heel opened up Pompey for Aquilani to score soon after, and he clattered the post in a frantic end to the first half. Grabbed a second after the break with a fine finish, and was replaced by Ngog to rapturous applause.
Substitutes
David Ngog - N/A - Late sub for Torres.
Yossi Benayoun - N/A - Replaced Gerrard late on.
Martin Kelly - 6 - Given a relaxing 20 minutes in place of Johnson.
PORTSMOUTH
Jamie Ashdown - 4 - Caught on the ball for Liverpool's opener, and looked nervy whenever the ball was at his feet. Made one fingertip save to deny Babel, but dropped a cross soon after and will want to forget his night's work.
Steve Finnan - 5 - The former Reds full-back was twisted inside out by Torres for the second goal and struggled to cope with Babel.
Marc Wilson - 5 - Put his goalkeeper under pressure for Liverpool's opening goal, and struggled against a rampant Torres.
Ricardo Rocha - 4 - Survived an early penalty appeal for handball, but failed to get tight enough to Torres or Gerrard.
Hermann Hreidarsson - 5 - Gave Maxi Rodriguez and Johnson too much time down the right hand side, and conceded too many free kicks.
Papa Bouba Diop - 4 - Was bypassed by the impeccable Aquilani in midfield, and replaced by Mokoena just after the hour.
Michael Brown - 5 - Escaped with a few clumsy challenges on Gerrard, one in the penalty area. Denied by Reina after the break, he was also clattered by Gerrard with a flailing arm.
Aruna Dindane - 5.5 - Pace offered Pompey's best outlet, but he saw too little of the ball to be of any use.
Jamie O'Hara - 5 - Guilty of diving in for Babel's goal, the on-loan midfielder grew visibly disillusioned as the game wore on.
Nadir Belhadj - 6 - Talented, but spent the game very much in the shadows, and offered little protection to his full-back, though he did create one chance for Brown after burning off Johnson down the left. Lucky not to concede a penalty after a reckless foul on the same player. Picked up a late consolation.
Frédéric Piquionne - 5 - Dragged Portsmouth's only chance of the first half wide as he toiled alone up front. Set up Belhadj's late consolation.
Substitutes
Danny Webber - N/A - On for O'Hara in the dying stages.
Quincy Owusu-Abeyie - N/A - Replaced Hreidarsson late on.
Aaron Mokoena - 5 - On for Diop with the game already over.
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