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Liverpool 3-1 Manchester City: Player Ratings

By J.C. Gonzalez

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 04: Claudio Bravo of Manchester City passes the ball during the FA Community Shield match between Manchester City and Liverpool at Wembley Stadium on August 04, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 04: Claudio Bravo of Manchester City passes the ball during the FA Community Shield match between Manchester City and Liverpool at Wembley Stadium on August 04, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) /
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Midfield

Rodri (CDM): A shock inclusion after a hamstring injury that was expected to keep him out past the upcoming international break, the Spaniard tried his best to provide stability and grit to the City midfield. (6)

İlkay Gündoğan (CAM): It seems as if Pep Guardiola simply wasn’t paying attention to the change that has brought the German to his best form of the season. When Rodri was injured and Gündoğan started behind two other more attack-minded midfielders, he flourished. While I understand the decision to play him in this game to provide more defensive stability, he should have lined up next to Rodri in a two-man pivot behind a free-roaming Kevin de Bruyne in the number 10 role rather than in front of Rodri. He provided little in attack today, and the so-called “stability” always seems to result in goals conceded and defeat, whether it is directly his fault or not. (5)

Kevin de Bruyne (CAM): After a flourishing start to the season, the Belgian superstar has seriously cooled. While his galloping runs through the heart of the defense showed real drive, he looks to be a bit of a one-trick pony at the moment, constantly trying the two-touch cross from the right hand flank that worked so well earlier. Liverpool defended the balls he put in well, and he couldn’t make his mark on a massive game. (6)