Player ratings vs. Liverpool (away)

My first away game for quite a while saw a good battle but ultimately a fair result. Some interesting individual performances worth discussing though.

Here are my ratings:

Schmeichel: 8 - Called into action far more than he has been in most matches recently, and pulled off several fine saves to keep us in the match. Also managed to calm the side down when we were in danger of conceding a second just before half time. My choice for our MOTM.
Ricardo: 6 - Largely nullified in attack today and couldn't make an impact in the Liverpool half. Held his end up defensively but couldn't do any more than that.
Evans: 6 - Had a decent match which was unfortunately spoiled by the misjudgement that led to Liverpool's opener.
Soyuncu: 7 - Barnstorming as he covered for Chilwell in the first 20 minutes or so. Dealt with Liverpool's attack well, but showed several signs of Maguire-esque ball-watching when the ball went over his head.
Chilwell: 3 - Had a stinker of a game. Looked unfathomably nervous at the start and never really got going throughout. Poor touches, mistakes - I don't really know what's wrong with him, but I guess it's simply poor form due to low confidence and questioning himself. Which is silly given that he's just been called up to the England squad again.
Barnes: 5 - Doesn't do the defensive side of the game and needs to learn it. Looked keen and lively in attacking positions but got swallowed up by the game today.
Tielemans: 6 - In some ways looking more like the player we want in that he is looking to dominate the match in midfield. However, as with others, he struggled to turn that into anything tangible.
Ndidi: 7 - His usual self, getting in and winning challenges, turning defence into attack, even on a yellow card.
Praet: 7 - Didn't look daunted by the opposition and showed calmness of body and mind. The fact he keeps getting subbed suggests that he is not fully fit yet, but while he's on the pitch he's doing well.
Maddison: 6 - Doesn't see a lot of the ball when he's played on the left wing, and didn't help Chilwell with the offer of forward passes. Scoring a goal helped his day, but I still suspect that he's not suited to the role and, if we really want all of Ndidi, Tielemans and Praet/Choudhury in a midfield 3, then it needs to be a diamond or he starts on the bench.
Vardy: 6 - Harried well and provided some good touches in build-up, but only really got one half-chance up front and a difficult first touch got away from him.

Albrighton: 5 - Got involved fairly well without being exceptional, but was ultimately his mistake that cost us a point. Not sure I'd go as far as Black Starr to say get rid of him, but he is looking more like a squad/bench player than a starter these days.
Perez: 7 - Looked quite up for it today and provided a very good assist. The kind of performance that he can hopefully push on from.
Choudhury: 5 - Honestly, it looks like he's in danger of getting a reputation for injuring opponents with dangerous tackles. In terms of play, he did need to make some sort of challenge on Salah, but there are more subtle ways of doing it that don't give the ref a decision to make. Eventually one ref will give a decision he doesn't like.


I couldn't argue with the result. We competed well with Liverpool in midfield, but they demonstrated their proficiency in creating good chances while we weren't able to do so in return. It was of course disappointing to see a point disappear in stoppage time, but it would have been a nicked point anyway.
As for Liverpool, they look like a team that finds a way to get results. Plus of course a team that has enough attacking talent that any one of a number of players win the match for them. (Today, that player was Mané.) This bodes well for them. I feel forced to change my mind and believe that Liverpool will win the title this year: It looks like, while Man City are the scarier team to face, they have more lost points in them.