With the people’s champion, Jamie Carragher, retiring on a high, it is time to appraise the Liverpool squad based on their personal accomplishments from the 2012-13 season. Let me start with the playing eleven:
Pepe Reina
This has been a mixed season for the Spaniard. He began the season with some awful performances against the Baggies and the Citizens and this was followed by a hamstring injury. He played extremely well in few games, exhibiting glimpses of his previous form.
Fifa 13 rating: 84My Fifa 14 rating: 81
Glen Johnson
A consistent player who has played as a rightback as well as a leftback this season.
Fifa 13 rating: 79My Fifa 14 rating: 80
Martin Skrtel
This has been a horrible season for the Slovakian skipper. He was left disillusioned after horrible performances at the beginning of the season and was never able to regain his position in the squad.
Fifa 13 rating: 81My Fifa 14 rating: 77
Daniel Agger
The best defender in the current squad. This season, Agger has played in more Premier League matches (35) than any of his previous six seasons as a Liverpool player.
Fifa 13 rating: 83My Fifa 14 rating: 85
Jose Enrique
Enrique has proved to be a crucial player for Liverpool since Brendan Rodgers took over, either used as a left-back or a left-winger. ‘El Toro’ has played in thirty-five of Liverpool’s fifty-four competitive matches in 2012-13. He also scored his first Premier League goal for Liverpool in the home matches against Wigan Athletic and Swansea City. A ‘man of the match’ performance against Chelsea showed how good he can be.
Fifa 13 rating: 79My Fifa 14 rating: 84
Stewart Downing
The number 19 has worked hard to repair some of the damage caused by negative comments made about his debut season as a Liverpool player. He has appeared in most of the club’s first-team matches in 2012-13 and was the only man to appear in all twelve Europa League ties, a competition in which he scored two stunning goals, against Gomel away and Anzhi at home. Downing has been used as a left back or as a right winger. As a defender, he has not been so good but as a winger he has shown us glimpses of his 2005-06 form.
Fifa 13 rating: 79My Fifa 14 rating: 82
Steven Gerrard
A redoubtable season for captain-fantastic, scoring as well as assisting 9 goals in BPL. Because of Lucas’ injury at the start of 2012-13, Gerrard was forced to defend more than attack, being unable to evince his talents in the attacking end of the field where he is most effective.
Fifa 13 rating: 84My Fifa 14 rating: 88
Jordan Henderson
The England Under-21 Player of the Year progressed rapidly in 2012-13, appearing in forty-four of the club’s fifty-four competitive matches. The 16 million pound signing has been rejuvenated since BR took over at Liverpool. His game has been flourishing ever since, finally showing what he is capable of.
Fifa 13 rating: 74My Fifa 14 rating: 83
Lucas Leiva
After his comeback, the Brazilian has been brilliant and kept his place in the playing 11 till the end of the season.
Fifa 13 rating: 80My Fifa 14 rating: 82
Philippe Coutinho
Philippe Coutinho was one of the big hits of the 2012-13 season. He was responsible for creating several goals, most notably the two he laid down for Downing and Suarez at Wigan in March, a brilliant pass to empower Jordan Henderson to equalize at Villa Park later in the same month, two more assists in the 6-0 thrashing of Newcastle in April and a perfect pass to lay down Daniel Sturridge’s hat-trick goal against ‘The Cottagers’ in the penultimate match of the season. This talismanic midfielder can be used anywhere in the final third of the field.
Fifa 13 rating: 78My Fifa 14 rating: 86
Daniel Sturridge
The 12 million pound striker was one of the two brilliant signings of the January transfer window. Scoring 11 goals in 16 appearances (including a hat-trick against Fulham), this 23-year-old striker has rejuvenated his career and has gone from sitting on the Chelsea bench to a hero at Anfield.
Fifa 13 rating: 78My Fifa 14 rating: 84
This controversial Uruguayan hit-man had an immensely productive club season (30 goals from 44 appearances in all competitions) until the biting incident against Chelsea, at Anfield, in April. Suarez has established himself as one of the world’s best strikers in the league of Messi, Ronaldo, Falcao, Cavani, Aguero and Van Persie, among others.
Fifa 13 rating: 86My Fifa 14 rating: 91
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