LIVERPOOL
Pepe Reina - 6 - Rarely called into
action, but was safe as houses when he was. Left exposed again by
his defence for City's goals.
Jamie Carragher - 7 - Booked early
for a rash lunge on Bellamy but kept his head to produce a sound
defensive performance at full-back.
Martin Skrtel - 8 - Handled Adebayor
well, getting tight and refusing to let the Togolese striker turn.
The Slovak then turned the contest with a close-range finish from
Gerrard's free-kick.
Daniel Agger - N/A - Carried off inside
the opening 10 minutes with a head injury.
Emiliano Insua - 7 - Coped well with
Wright-Phillips, and grew in confidence. Perhaps a little slow to
cover for Ireland's goal.
Lucas - 6 - Passed the ball
reasonably well and competed as ever, booked harshly after a tangle
with Tevez but the young Brazilian continues to improve.
Javier Mascherano - 7 - Set Liverpool's
tempo with his closing down, and looks back to his best form.
Dirk Kuyt - 6 - Was too fond of the
first-time pass in the first half especially, but put a solid shift
in on the right.
Steven Gerrard - 7 - Visibly
frustrated during a poor first half, but was always likely to
produce a decisive moment, and his free-kick brought about Skrtel's
goal. Faded as the game drew to a close.
Ryan Babel - 6 - Had started reasonably
well but was forced off 18 minutes in with an
ankle injury.
David Ngog - 6 - Looked full of
confidence, his touch was fine and he held the ball up pretty well
at times. Rarely a penalty box threat but a decent afternoon's
work and he produced the assist for Benayoun's leveller.
SUBSTITUTES
Fabio Aurelio - N/A - Late arrival
for a shattered Benayoun.
Yossi Benayoun - 7 - A surprise name
among the substitutes, but was brought on early. Not at full tilt,
though his composure and invention was as welcome as ever, and he
popped up with a vital leveller at 2-2.
Sotiris Kyrgiakos - 7 - Early
replacement for Agger, and slotted in well. Covered superbly, won
his aerial battles and produced his best performance in a Liverpool
shirt, though the nature of both City's goals will frustrate.
MANCHESTER CITY
Shay Given - 7 - One stunning save early
on to deny Skrtel, but was not overly exerted afterwards. Helpless
with either goal.
Pablo Zabaleta - 6 - Dallied a couple of
times in possession but covered his centre-backs well, though it
was his foul which led to the free-kick from which Liverpool opened
the scoring.
Kolo Toure - 7 - Hampered by a thigh
strain, but was competitive as ever and almost created a goal for
Barry with a fine cross. Withdrawn at half-time.
Joleon Lescott - 7 - Headed
everything that came his way, and was rarely second best.
Wayne Bridge - 6 - Inconsistent from one
minute to the next, covered well but wasted the ball a few times
and was targeted by Liverpool down their right-hand side.
Nigel De Jong - 7 - City's standout
performer in the first half, their version of Mascherano mopped up
everything and added composure to their play.
Gareth Barry - 6 - A performance of
minimum fuss from the former Reds target, who lasted an hour before
being sacrificed for Tevez.
Shaun Wright-Phillips - 7 - Wasteful
at times, but he created Ireland's goal and looked lively in the
second half especially.
Stephen Ireland - 7 - Saw plenty of the
ball, and rarely wasted it, except for one poor ball at the end of
a good break early in the second half. Took his only shooting
chance clinically.
Craig Bellamy - 6 - Always lively, though
Carragher dealt with him fairly well. Provided the assist for
Adebayor's leveller.
Emmanuel Adebayor - 7 - Frustrating
afternoon, the ball didn't stick when it went up to him, and it was
he who lost Skrtel for the goal. Made amends after 68 minutes with
a confident header from Bellamy's corner, and grew in confidence
afterwards.
SUBSTITUTES
Carlos Tevez - 7 - Given half an hour
to change the game, he managed to do so with his selflessness and
awareness.
Nedum Onuoha - 6 - Half-time replacement
for Toure, the youngster did well although was not stretched by
Liverpool.
