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Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher questioned Jurgen Klopp’s decision not to go ‘top-heavy’ in the penalty shoot-out which decided yesterday’s Capital One Cup final defeat to Manchester City .
Emre Can, Philippe Coutinho, Lucas Leiva and Adam Lallana stepped up to take Liverpool’s spot-kicks and all but Can saw their efforts saved by opposition goalkeeper Willy Caballero.
James Milner, Liverpool’s regular first-choice penalty taker, was in line to take the fifth. The likes of club captain Jordan Henderson and striker Daniel Sturridge were not in the first five takers.
“I may be wrong, I don't know about going top heavy - I don't know why Lucas has taken the second penalty,” Carragher said after the game. “Maybe it goes in order but sometimes you may not even get to the fifth penalty.
“You want your best penalty takers first, there’s no guarantee that everyone is going to score.”
Show all 23 1 /23Liverpool vs Man City player ratings Liverpool vs Man City player ratings Simon Mignolet - 5 out of 10 Having made an excellent save from Aguero in the first half, the often-criticised Liverpool goalkeeper was badly at fault for the opening goal, allowing Fernandinho to find the back of the net despite a tight angle. Made up for it somewhat with some crucial interventions late in the game and a particularly good stop from Aguero in extra-time.
2016 Liverpool FC
Liverpool vs Man City player ratings Nathaniel Clyne - 6 out of 10 Found Sterling a nuisance all afternoon and when he fouled the Man City winger for a third time, ended up in the book. Was a useful asset going forward.
Liverpool vs Man City player ratings Lucas - 6 out of 10 Made a dirty challenge on Aguero that on another day might have led to a red card - yet remarkably the Brazilian escaped without so much as a booking. Considering he's naturally a midfielder, Lucas did pretty well at the back in the first period but things got the better of him in the second with Man City's world-class talent exposing him. Booked.
2016 Liverpool FC
Liverpool vs Man City player ratings Mamadou Sakho - 4 out of 10 Reluctantly replaced after 25 minutes soon after a clash of heads with Can. Looked uncertain before the head injury, even more so after it with Aguero nearly capitalising on the Frenchman's unsure footing.
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Liverpool vs Man City player ratings Alberto Moreno - 3 out of 10 Unbelievably lucky not to concede a penalty when after being wrong footed by Aguero he stuck out a leg to trip the Argentinian in the box. In addition lost possession in decent positions and failed to make as much of a dent when going forward as Clyne on the opposite wing. Sacrificed by Klopp for Lallana with 20 minutes to go and Liverpool needing a goal. Booked.
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Liverpool vs Man City player ratings James Milner - 4 out of 10 Up against his former employers Milner did little but stand in an offside position when Liverpool were looking at their most dangerous. While his effort can never be questioned, his quality can and in this match his lack of it showed, particularly when his header back to Mignolet was nearly converted into a Man City goal by Aguero.
Liverpool vs Man City player ratings Jordan Henderson - 5 out of 10 Showed some metal in midfield but the Liverpool captain just lacks that killer pass and influence to turn a final the way his predeccessor with the armband Steven Gerrard could.
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Liverpool vs Man City player ratings Emre Can - 4 out of 10 Came off the better in the clash of heads with Sakho but not so well in the midfield battle with Man City. Ineffective for the most part. Booked.
2016 Liverpool FC
Liverpool vs Man City player ratings Philippe Coutinho - 7 out of 10 The Brazilian is arguably Liverpool's greatest asset when it comes to match-turning moments and he proved it when keeping calm to put Liverpool back on level terms. But overall he was given few opportunities to settle on the ball and make an impact. Booked.
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Liverpool vs Man City player ratings Roberto Firmino - 5 out of 10 Largely anonymous, much in part due to Man City's excellent defensive work in midfield.
Liverpool vs Man City player ratings Daniel Sturridge - 6 out of 10 The England international was forced to start dropping deep in search of the ball due to the lack of service. Showed his quality with his link-up play around Man City's penalty area but frustratingly for him didn't get on the ball where he could have made an impact on the score-sheet.
2016 Liverpool FC
Liverpool vs Man City player ratings Kolo Toure - 8 out of 10 Having been called into action much earlier than expected Toure performed tremendously well at the back. The moment he took the ball from younger brother Yaya was particularly notable.
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Liverpool vs Man City player ratings Willy Caballero - 8 out of 10 Without question Manuel Pellegrini made the right call when he opted to stick by Joe Hart's understudy for the final. Got off his line quickly when needed and held onto the ball when others may have spilled it during the game, but made his greatest contribution in the shoot-out with saves from Lucas, Coutinho and Lallana.
Liverpool vs Man City player ratings Bacary Sagna - 6 out of 10 The former Arsenal man showed his ability to whip in a dangerous cross and was sound at the back as Moreno and Coutinho were limited when attacking down the left. Replaced at start of extra-time.
Liverpool vs Man City player ratings Vincent Kompany - 6 out of 10 Stepped out when needed to and brought that sense of assurance that inexplicably only he appears to be able to bring to Manchester City's defence. Booked.
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Liverpool vs Man City player ratings Nicolas Otamendi - 7 out of 10 A rock at the back, putting pressure on Milner when the Liverpool midfielder looked like he might score and getting his head on anything that came his way. Booked in extra-time.
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Liverpool vs Man City player ratings Gael Clichy - 5 out of 10 His crossing was nowhere near the standard shown on the other wing by Sagna but defensively did a decent job.
Liverpool vs Man City player ratings Yaya Toure - 5 out of 10 Fernando gave Toure licence to get forward but the Ivory Coast international declined to take up the invitation and was one of Manchester City's less influential players.
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Liverpool vs Man City player ratings Fernando - 8 out of 10 The stand-out player in midfield, keeping Coutinho and Firmino in check through his brilliant reading of the game and fierce tackling and intimidation. Understandably booked.
Liverpool vs Man City player ratings Fernandinho - 8 out of 10 Considering he tends to play centrally, Fernandinho looked at home on the right of midfield and was rewarded with a goal from his fierce low drive from a tight angle. At the other end, was fortunate a foul on Sturridge was just outside the box in the first period. Replaced at start of extra-time.
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Liverpool vs Man City player ratings David Silva - 7 out of 10 The Spaniard just oozes quality and his rapid quick-thinking link-up play a joy to watch throughout the afternoon. Replaced in extra-time with Bony.
2016 Liverpool FC
Liverpool vs Man City player ratings Raheem Sterling - 5 out of 10 The £49m summer signing may have felt he had something to prove to his former employers, and certainly the fans who mercilessly booed him throughout due to his acrimonious departure from Anfield. He was a constant menace on the left wing and drew foul after foul. However he was culpable of a truly dreadful miss when the match was at 1-0 which probably would have seen City claim the trophy in the 90 minutes.
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Liverpool vs Man City player ratings Sergio Aguero - 7 out of 10 As is usual, looks a cut above just about everyone else on the field. Set up Fernandinho's opening goal with a perfectly weighted pass and was only denied a goal of his own in the first period by a brilliant Mignolet save. Should also have been awarded a penalty when Moreno blatantly fouled him after being outwitted.
Carragher, who was speaking his punditry role on Sky Sports, also directly questioned why Sturridge was not selected to take a kick in the shoot-out.
Klopp claimed that the England international, who seemed particularly emotional after the defeat, was suffering from severe cramp, meaning he could barely walk.
“He [Sturridge] looks upset,” Carragher noted. “He had cramps towards the end but unless he has an injury I don't see why he hasn't taken a penalty.”
Can scored Liverpool’s first kick of the shoot-out with an impudent ‘Panenka’ but Caballero was equal to each of their following three efforts.
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