Red Star Belgrade vs Liverpool player ratings: Sturridge flops, Lallana inneffective

Alisson: Little he could do to prevent Pavkov’s first goal that nestled in his far corner but perhaps slightly at fault for the second as he appeared to dive with the wrong hand as the ball zipped past him at a not un-saveable height 5/10

Trent Alexander-Arnold: Uncharacteristically sloppy in possession, Alexander-Arnold’s form has dipped slightly in recent weeks and Klopp’s decision to haul him off at the break for Joe Gomez doesn’t bode well for his chances of starting at the weekend 4/10

Virgil Van Dijk: Usually a towering colossus at the heart of Liverpool’s defence, Van Dijk was surprisingly beaten to the ball by Milan Pankov for Red Star’s opener and sent sprawling by the bruising Red Star frontman in another duel soon after. Not his best night 5/10

Joel Matip: Dejan Lovren’s renaissance coupled with Joe Gomez’s emergence has seen Joel Matip relegated to fourth-choice in Liverpool’s central defensive pecking order. There was little to suggest from this performance that will change anytime soon 4/10

Andrew Robertson: The Scot never has an off-game and even with the rest of his teammates falling well below their usual standards, Robertson did at least play somewhere near his best level. As the game wore on, Robertson popped up all over the pitch in an attempt to haul Liverpool back into it 6/10

Georginio Wijnaldum: A fixture in the Liverpool midfield this season despite the arrival of a couple of expensive players, Wijnaldum might find his place under threat following an insipid showing in Belgrade. Offered little going forward and brushed aside far too easily by Pavkov for the second goal 4/10

James Milner: Gave the ball away cheaply in the build-up to Red Star’s second goal and was unusually below-par in the first half. Much-improved after the break, driving forward to try and make something happen and causing Red Star problems from his set-piece delivery 5/10

Adam Lallana: Klopp is a big fan of Adam Lallana’s yet his decision to start him in such an important game with £90m pair Naby Keita and Fabinho warming the bench seemed a peculiar decision. Industrious but extremely ineffective 4/10

Mohamed Salah: Couldn’t get into the game despite being shifted into a central attacking role. Somewhat inevitably given his exploits last season, Salah has become a (double) marked man this season and as yet he hasn’t quite figured out how to best escape the extra attention he’s being given. Hit the post 4/10

Sadio Mane: Mane has been the brightest of Liverpool’s front three this season and was so again without being at his devastating best. Liverpool’s joint-most creative player on the night with three chances created alongside Milner 6/10

Daniel Sturridge: Considering Roberto Firmino has scored only one goal in his last nine Liverpool games, this was a big opportunity for Sturridge. He fluffed his lines big time on 16 minutes, smashing a volley over from close-range and was too often selfish in the final third. Hooked at half-time 3/10

Substitutes

Joe Gomez: Given his performances this season it was surprising he was left out. Given the performances of others on the night, he will almost certainly be back in from the start, be it at centre back or on the right, against Fulham 6/10

Roberto Firmino: The goals have dried up alarmingly for the Brazilian and despite plenty of endeavour he didn’t really look like scoring. Linked the play better than Sturridge, at least 5/10