GK, Simon Mignolet: 9/10
Mignolet wasn’t tested much in the match. He did make a difficult save in the first half on a Sunderland attempt that took a nasty ricochet, which he was able to push wide.
LB, Jon Flanagan: 7/10
Flanagan gave Sunderland a breath of life in the second half after leaving his mark on the back post off a corner kick. That goal really raised the pressure on Liverpool, making it rough going through the finish.
CB, Martin Skrtel: 7.5/10
Though he had a solid enough game, Skrtel did fall asleep on a free kick that found John O’Shea alone on top of the six-yard box. Fortunately for Liverpool they averted conceding a disastrous equalizer when O’Shea put the uncontested header wide.
CB, Daniel Agger: 8/10
Good all-around performance.
RB, Glen Johnson: 8/10
Johnson was a major threat in the attack throughout the game up the right side.
CDM, Steven Gerrard: 8.5/10
The skipper continued to lead his troops through this magical campaign, highlighting his performance with a solid dead ball strike from 20 yards out. Fooling the Sunderland keeper and spectators alike, Gerrard took that set piece rather than Luis Suarez, who has been in charge on those types of chances so far this season.
RM, Jordan Henderson: 8/10
Henderson played a mostly mistake-free game.
LM, Joe Allen: 8/10
Much like Henderson on the opposite side, Allen turned in a balanced performance and filled his role well.
CAM, Phillipe Coutinho: 8.5/10
Realizing the fixture perhaps, Coutinho was aggressive on the attack. He looked very confident and especially sharp on the ball, creating chances for himself and his teammates.
RS, Daniel Sturridge: 8.5/10
Sturridge scored his 20th goal of this season, getting a somewhat fortuitous deflection that put the keeper off the flight of the ball. That goal moved him and Suarez into third on the list of top scoring teammates for a season in the top flight, a record they may surely surpass before all is said and done (they are eight away from tying that mark).
LS, Luis Suarez: 8/10
Suarez had a bit off an off night by not managing a goal. His touch and finishing quality weren’t there today, but he still managed to cause lots of problems on the dribble and drew the free kick that Gerrard put away.
Substitutes:
RS, Raheem Sterling: 7.5/10
Sterling entered the match for Sturridge which seemed a fairly strange move for Liverpool. Once Sunderland pulled a goal back, Sterling didn’t do much for Liverpool in trying to hold the lead, failing to effectively hold the ball for them up the field to try and kill the Sunderland momentum.
