CITY VERSUS ROMA PLAYER RATINGS
KASPER SCHMEICHEL: After conceding Abraham’s header, he was forced to come out and try to claim or punch clear set-pieces to help his team-mates, something he does not ordinarily like doing. He did a decent job of it. He also made a couple of good low saves from Pellegrini, but had very little to do after the first 20 minutes. 6/10
RICARDO PEREIRA: Late in the first half, he made a couple of strong, aggressive challenges, showing a fight for the cause few of his teammates had shown. But he struggled whenever Zalewski attacked down his flank, while he twice crossed straight into Patricio’s hands. He was also beaten at the corner by Abraham, but that was not really his fault. 5/10
WESLEY FOFANA: He was combative in the 50-50s and calm in possession, as usual. But sometimes he moved the ball a little bit too slowly, while his dribbles out from the back usually went nowhere as he was unable to find a good pass at the end of it. He was also booked after being spun by Abraham. 6/10
JONNY EVANS: He did not have a lot to do, such was the pattern of the game. Again, Fofana did the dirty work in defence, allowing Evans to hold the line at the back. 5/10
JAMES JUSTIN: One of the few players to come out of the game with credit. When City switched to the back three, he used his greater freedom to make runs on and off the ball to try to penetrate a mean Roma defence. 6/10
YOURI TIELEMANS: He did not do anything wrong, but there was little in the way of invention in Tielemans’ play. He did not make the incisive passes that it’s clear he can. Defensively, he didn’t have a lot to do. 5/10
ADEMOLA LOOKMAN: Rodgers was furious with him when he played a ball back to Ricardo without turning into space, but this sparked him into life. In the first 20 minutes, he lost the ball nearly every time it came to him, but he showed quick feet and a nice touch in places, even if he slowed the game down unnecessarily at times. Withdrawn at the break. 4/10
JAMES MADDISON: Showed off quick feet to get out of tight situations and he kept showing himself for the ball to try to weave some magic, but very little came off for him. His set-piece delivery was very poor too. 5/10
KIERNAN DEWSBURY-HALL: He did not get into the game as much as he usually does, his press often beaten too easily. Plus, his shot selection was woeful, dragging a few efforts well wide when he should have looked for a pass into the box. 4/10
HARVEY BARNES: A nightmare evening for the winger. Every time he received the ball to feet, it would ping right back off him, like he was controlling a bouncy ball rather than a football. That meant City could not profit from any attacks down that side, and so he was dragged at halftime. 3/10
JAMIE VARDY: His failure to bring down a long ball at the end was a summary of a frustrating night for the striker. He had one chance, blocked by Abraham, but threatened very little other than that. The Roma defence didn’t even seem that scared of him this time either. 4/10
SUBSTITUTES
DANIEL AMARTEY: City were on the front foot, without creating anything, for the whole of the time Amartey was on the pitch. He moved the ball reasonably well, but his introduction was purely to facilitate the formation change. 5/10
KELECHI IHEANACHO: He was City’s saviour at the end of last season, but showed no signs of making an impact after his introduction. He made poor choices on the ball for the few times he got it under control. 4/10
TIMOTHY CASTAGNE: He did not get in behind and did not help City trouble the Roma back-line. But that’s not his job and he did not have much to do defensively to make an impact. 5/10
AYOZE PEREZ: There were a few nice touches and there was clearly plenty of effort to make something happen. If his team-mates had been more effective around him, he may have been able to influence the game. 5/10