English Premier League: Detailed Player by Player review for Manchester United versus Liverpool – Part 5
With looks that rival Doctor Evil from the Austin Powers movie, Skrtel is not a soft looking character by any means. However, it would be best for Liverpool if he played hard ball on the field as well. In all honesty, Carragher’s
mistakes did not make it easy for Martin to give his best on the field. Not only did he have to do his own job but also cover his aging defensive partner. But there were a few points in the game where Skrtel looked short of confidence and quality, a combination
which does not suit English football’s most successful team, Liverpool.
Skrtel’s performance was an average 5 out of 10, such a short score because he only succeeded partly. His marking on Berbatov through the match was weak and when Rooney occupied his attentions, the English striker was not closed
down soon enough, giving Rooney time and space on the ball can be nightmarish at times but against Liverpool, luckily for Martin, the former Everton man was strangely subdued.
In the last ten minutes of the match, Macheda was brought on by Sir Alex Ferguson in place of Dimitar Berbatov, who departed to a standing ovation after completing his hatrick of goals; Skrtel was again second best to the young
Italian miracle worker. Federico occupied the Slovakian centre back quite effectively; all in all it was a bad game for Skrtel.
It would be good if Liverpool fans saw a complete performance from Johnson in one of the big games that he has deployed at. Below average at the World Cup for England, below average for Liverpool in the English Premier League so
far, Johnson’s reviews can be copy pasted for every game he plays. When the young English fullback was at Portsmouth under Harry Redknapp, he was converted into a right sided midfield player, a winger who pushes forward and seldom has any defensive duties.
When he was at Chelsea, he wasn’t given any game time due to the presence of Ferreira at the London club. At Liverpool, Johnson was seen as a brilliant buy last season, a defender who will bring something extra to the Merseyside red’s back line.
Johnson was again commendable when he was inside Manchester United’s half of the field but abysmal when he was inside his own. He was in truth effective during attack and but disappointing in defence. It goes to show the current
state of Liverpool’s defence, with the likes of Carragher and Johnson, no wonder the club finished seventh in last season’s English Premier League season. On Sunday afternoon, Glen was up against, Ryan Giggs, the 37 year old winger gave Johnson a torrid time
and went past him on a couple of occasions. Something that is just not acceptable. Johnson’s first responsibility as a right back is to defend and then to support his team’s attack.
Faltering in primary duties and excelling in secondary ones, Johnson’s career story at Liverpool so far, it would be interesting to see if Hodgson uses Johnson as a right winger from now on in, but if the former Fulham manager
does make his decision, Glen would have to shape up his crossing skills, which were frankly dreadful against Manchester United.
Raul Meireles, who made his full debut for Liverpool in the English Premier League against Manchester United, was also average. He did make some intelligent runs to stretch United’s defence and also looked quite easy on the ball
but he was deployed in the wrong position by Roy Hodgson, he was used against United in an attacking midfielder’s role, something that he clearly isn’t.
Raul was expected to link up with Torres on a regular basis but that didn’t happen as often as Roy would’ve wanted it to. When Liverpool brought on N’Gog and shifted to four in midfield, Meireles started to influence the game more
but it was a case of too little too late.
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