Liverpool Outclass Boro At The Riverside

Middlesbrough    0    Liverpool    3 

                                                             Lallana 29 68

                                                         Origi 60

Middlesbrough were outclassed and outplayed at the Riverside on Wednesday night, as Liverpool inflicted the Teessider’s heaviest defeat of the season.

Two goals from Adam Lallana, either side of a neat finish from Divock Origi, completed a comprehensive victory for the visitors, who moved back up to second in the Premier League table.

In total Boro managed just two shots on target, as Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, who replaced the culpable Loris Karius, barely had a save to make.

Boro were boosted the return of striker Alvaro Negredo, however the potent Spaniard was left isolated upfront for most of the night as the hosts struggled to break out of their own half.

Negredo was one of two changes made by Boro manager Aitor Karanka after Boro’s 1-0 defeat away at Southampton on Sunday.

The other saw Adama Traore return to the side, as Jordan Rhodes dropped to the bench while Cristhian Stuani missed out altogether.

The early exchanges played out as many would have expected and despite being the away side Liverpool monopolised possession.

Boro’s game plan, as it was against Arsenal, Manchester City, and Chelsea, consisted of getting men behind the ball and making themselves difficult to beat, while trying to pose a threat on the break.

Liverpool passed and probed but for 29 minutes Karanka’s men gave the visitors little space in the final third.

Eventually though, Klopp’s rampant side, who are the highest scorers in the league this season, made the breakthrough when Nathaniel Clyne found space on the right and the full-back’s cross was headed home by Lallana.

In contrast Boro are the division’s lowest scorers, with just 13 goals in 15 games. It was clear to see why, and even Liverpool’s vulnerable defence was barely tested.

Mignolet was one of two changes made by Klopp following Liverpool’s 2-2 draw at home to West Ham.

The keeper only had one challenging save to make in the first 45 minutes, when Viktor Fischer tried his luck from a tight angle but Mignolet palmed the ball to safety.

The second half was a far more one-sided affair and Liverpool’s passing was crisp from the restart.

On 60 minutes Klopp’s side gave themselves breathing space when a neat move full of one touch passes calved open Boro’s backline wide open.

This time Lallana turned provider and his low cross from the right was met by Origi, who made no mistake from close range.

Lallana added a third seven minutes later when he was found unmarked in the penalty area before hammering the ball past the helpless Victor Valdes.

Still Boro struggled to win back possession and at times Liverpool knocked the ball around as if it was a training session.

Karanka’s side will surely receive more licence to attack when they host Swansea on Saturday. The result leaves Boro 17^th in the table and they will need to show far more ambition going forward if they are to stay out of the bottom three.