Neither team really looked like scoring for most of the game but the predictable Cahill effort eventually came and it was almost equally predictable that Robin should ride to the rescue with a truly great goal. God bless his little glass ankles
Manuel Almunia - 6 - Very little to do. Did pop off his line for once though.
Bacary Sagna - 6 - Ruined a solid game by getting dragged into the middle to allow Baines the freedom of Merseyside to cross for Cahill's goal.
William Gallas - 7 - I was slightly surprised to see him placed straight back in the team, but showed his class.
Johan Djourou - 6 - Questions may be asked about why Clichy was marking Cahill rather than the big centre half, but on the whole Johan dealt with the threat of Fellaini well.
Gael Clichy - 5 - Hard to be critical of him being outjumped by Cahill but his careless passing is a concern.
Denilson - 6 - Worked hard giving Sagna valuable support but wasted the best chance we created on the night.
Alexandre Song - 7 - Performed pretty much as you want your defensive central midfield to perform.
Abou Diaby - 6 - Just couldn't get the ball in the first half and I thought he was lucky to still be on the pitch at the end (subbed rather than sent off I might add, though the homer of a ref could easily have shown a red for looking at him in a funny way) but he was and what a ball he finally played.
Samir Nasri - 6 - A few high points but disappointingly seemed reluctant (or was told not) to come in field where he surely could influence the game more.
Robin van Persie - 8 - Not everything he is trying is coming off, but it's close.
Emmanuel Adebayor - 6 - Started the game in bright fashion, but faded dramatically.
Substitutes:
Nicklas Bendtner - 6 - Not the influence of recent showings.
Emmanuel Eboue - 6 - A rare outing at right back and for once did little to annoy the masses.