LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 16: Jurgen Klopp, Manager of Liverpool looks on during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on September 16, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
A week ago, we did our best to predict Liverpool’s FIFA 17 ratings. Now, they’re out and confirmed. How’d we do?
EA Sports has released the official ratings for FIFA 17, now we get to argue over the Liverpool players! Woohoo!
There are a few travesties as well as a few pleasant surprises, as there are every year, but Liverpool generally seems rational ranked. Philippe Coutinho is the club’s highest rated player which is an easy argument to make.
In the game, managers have been inserted which means we get to virtually watch Jurgen Klopp. At anytime you offer me more Jurgen Klopp, I’m going to take more Jurgen Klopp.
When playing as Liverpool in this game, there will be a ton of lineup decisions to make. It’ll be fun that the club is deep and interesting as well as it will be in manager mode.
Here are Liverpool’s confirmed FIFA 17 ratings.
DERBY, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 20: Loris Karius of Liverpool in action during the EFL Cup Third Round match between Derby County and Liverpool at iPro Stadium on September 20, 2016 in Derby, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
Goalkeepers
In general, the three keepers came in a sequence we all wanted: Karius THEN Mignolet (then Manninger, of course.)
Loris Karius /// CONFIRMED rating: 82 /// RTK’s PREDICTED rating: 81
We weren’t far off, but we love that FIFA rates Karius this highly. Our Sweet Prince should stand to only improve as he’s just 22 years young.
The confirmation came just one day after Karius was finally able to make his Liverpool debut, a shutout in their 3-0 League Cup win against Derby County. Klopp has said that there’s ‘no no. 1’, which doesn’t bode well for Mignolet.
He’s coming for you, Simon.
Simon Mignolet /// CONFIRMED rating: 78 /// RTK’S PREDICTED rating: 76
FIFA was never going to dump Mignolet so far, after being a 78 last season, but he deserved it.
We’re fine with a settling with a higher Karius than a lower Mignolet, though.
Alex Manninger /// CONFIRMED rating: 73 /// RTK’S PREDICTED rating: 69
I suppose we severely underrated Manninger. Apologies Uncle Alex.
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 27: Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur (C), Dejan Lovren of Liverpool (L) and Joel Matip of Liverpool all watch the ball during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool at White Hart Lane on August 27, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)
Central Defenders
Somewhat surprisingly, FIFA couldn’t parse Joel Matip, Dejan Lovren and Mamadou Sakho, all getting the same rating. Also, Liverpool U23 star Tiago Ilori makes an appearance!
Joel Matip /// CONFIRMED rating: 82 /// RTK’S PREDICTED rating: 82
Right on the money for RTK! We thought he was clearly Liverpool’s best defender in preseason, but we still got it correct. Count it. Still a win.
Matip has been worth the price of admission this season, he seems everything we were told he would be.
Dejan Lovren /// CONFIRMED rating: 82 /// RTK’S PREDICTED rating: 80
After a month into the season, this 82 is well dissevered. Lovren and Matip have forged a promising partnership.
Mamadou Sakho /// CONFIRMED rating: 82 /// RTK’S PREDICTED rating: 81
Sakho getting an 82 was well deserved near the end of the year last season, until he got (wrongly) banned for failing a UEFA drug test. Since then, Klopp’s ostensibly tried to get him to leave by saying he won’t play and he needs to leave on loan.
He’s still here, and a good player in FIFA.
Ragnar Klavan /// CONFIRMED rating: 78 /// RTK’S PREDICTED rating: 78
Klavan at a 78 feels about right. He’s a solid rotational defender and is currently ahead of Sakho in depth charts.
Tiago Ilori /// CONFIRMED rating: 75 /// RTK’S PREDICTED rating: N/A
This feels rather steep for a player who can’t get anywhere near the first team and couldn’t get anyone to buy or loan him. Also, last season, he went on loan to hapless Aston Villa and never played. That says it all, really.
Last FIFA, Emre Can was rated a 75. Apparently Can last season was as good as Ilori this season.
DORTMUND, NORTH RHINE-WESTPHALIA – APRIL 07: Nathaniel Clyne of Liverpool runs with the ball during the UEFA Europa League quarter final first leg match between Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool at Signal Iduna Park on April 7, 2016 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Boris Streubel/Getty Images)
Fullbacks
Nathaniel Clyne, as expected, is king in the skimp Liverpool fullback department while Gomez is jipped.
Nathaniel Clyne /// CONFIRMED rating: 81 /// RTK’S PREDICTED rating: 82
I mean, we’re splitting hairs here but come on, Clyne deserves better than this. It’s about what the numbers feel, 81 feels like an average fullback. As an 82, climbing the ladder, getting closer to being the best fullback in the division, something he has a rational claim to.
Alberto Moreno /// CONFIRMED rating: 77 /// RTK’S PREDICTED rating: 77
The good news about Moreno in FIFA: his positioning doesn’t hurt as much in the game as it does in real life and his raw pace makes him a good option in the game.
Related: the game didn’t list Milner as a fullback, or he’d outpace the Spaniard here.
Joe Gomez /// CONFIRMED rating: 69 /// RTK’S PREDICTED rating: 71
Rather parsimonious from EA on Gomez here blocking him from getting into the 70’s.
Last year before his injury, Gomez was garnering acclaim and was sticking around the first team. We impatiently await his return, set for October, a full year after tearing his ACL.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 21: Raheem Sterling of Manchester City and Lucas Leiva of Liverpool compete for the ball during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester City and Liverpool at Etihad Stadium on November 21, 2015 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Defensive Midfielders
With FIFA calling Emre Can a central midfielder rather than a defensive mid, Liverpool have just two defensive mids on their senior roster: Lucas Leiva and Kevin Stewart. (There’s also Pedro Chirivella, but he’s still in the youth set up and given just a 58 on merit.)
Lucas Leiva /// CONFIRMED rating: 80 /// RTK’S PREDICTED rating: 78
After not playing all the much last season, mostly in a reserve role in the center of defense as well, we expected a drop in the Lucas Leiva stock. Instead, he got an improvement from 79 in FIFA 16 to an 80 in the newest edition of the game.
Lucas played in defense this season as well as in midfield in the League Cup, sticking to his more natural roots.
Kevin Stewart /// CONFIRMED rating: 72 /// RTK’S PREDICTED rating: 71
Ah, so close.
Stewart, after being released from Tottenham, was brought to Liverpool as an older academy product without any furor last summer. He was recalled in January and has been firmly in the first team, with Klopp regularly naming him to the Premier League bench.
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – JULY 20: James Milner (L) of Liverpool talks to Jordan Henderson of Liverpool (R) during the international friendly match between Adelaide United and Liverpool FC at Adelaide Oval on July 20, 2015 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
Central Midfielders
With Milner staying in the midfield, Liverpool have some good options in the game.
James Milner /// CONFIRMED rating: 81 /// RTK’S PREDICTED rating: 80
Milner is king of Liverpool’s central midfielders, though he’s been playing left back for the beginning of this season. It’d be tough to see Milner break into the midfield with everyone fit, anyway.
Emre Can /// CONFIRMED rating: 80 /// RTK’S PREDICTED rating: 80
We predicted (and desperately hoped for) a big upgrade from Can and we got it.
Last season, he was criminally awarded a 75 but this season that’s been rectified, thankfully. At this pace he’ll be an 85 for FIFA 18!
Jordan Henderson /// CONFIRMED rating: 80 /// RTK’S PREDICTED rating: 80
Another right on the money, Henderson breaks into the 80’s finally. Well deserved to say the least, as he has been awesome to begin the season.
Marko Grujic /// CONFIRMED rating: 70 /// RTK’S PREDICTED rating: 74
A biiiiiiiiiit of an overestimation on our part. To be fair, we had no idea what FIFA would do plus Grujic had dazzled us with preseason goals, including one against Barcelona, to cloud our ability to be unbiased.
Cameron Brannagan /// CONFIRMED rating: 70 /// RTK’S PREDICTED rating: N/A
We neglected to include Brannagan in the predictions, but he’s been given the same rating as Grujic despite Grujic clearly being in the first team and Brannagan being on the fringes.
DERBY, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 20: Philippe Coutinho (L) of Liverpool celebrates scoring his team’s second goal with Roberto Firmino during the EFL Cup Third Round match between Derby County and Liverpool at iPro Stadium on September 20, 2016 in Derby, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
Attacking Midfielders
The Coutinho and Firmino bromance is only bettered by Adam Lallana and Henderson. That’s true love, folks.
Philippe Coutinho /// CONFIRMED rating: 85 /// RTK’S PREDICTED rating: 85
Liverpool’s highest rated FIFA player, Coutinho is going to be a joy to play with. With his dribbling ability and agility, he’s going to be fantastic.
Roberto Firmino /// CONFIRMED rating: 82 /// RTK’S PREDICTED rating: 84
This isn’t right. Firmino deserves better than this.
Had he not came out of the gates at Liverpool so slow, he surely would’ve. But for some, it takes a while for a first impression to be undone, and that’s the price he’s paying.
Since the beginning of 2016, Firmino has been Liverpool’s most consistent player. He’s always been fit and firing, Coutinho had some injuries and poor form while Lallana slowly came on at the end of last year, that he’s continued this season.
Related: look at how bright Firming’s teeth are in that picture!
Adam Lallana /// CONFIRMED rating: 82 /// RTK’S PREDICTED rating: 81
It’s well deserved what Lallana has been given and it’s awesome that FIFA has recognized his ability past the goals and assists.
This season, he’s been adding that to his game at Liverpool making him an integral piece to Klopp’s team.
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 06: Sadio Mane of Liverpool during the International Champions Cup 2016 match between Liverpool and Barcelona at Wembley Stadium on August 6, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)
Wingers
Sadio Mane and Sheyi Ojo get’s the shaft by FIFA, while Wijnaldum is listed as a left midfielder, making him the best wide man at the club in the eyes of EA.
Gini Wijnaldum /// CONFIRMED rating: 81 /// RTK’S PREDICTED rating: 80
Wijnaldum has been quietly impressive for Liverpool, standing in Mane’s shadow being quietly consistent in the midfield while Mane gets all the plaudits.
Sadio Mane /// CONFIRMED rating: 79 /// RTK’S PREDICTED rating: 82
HOW IN THE WORLD IS HE ONLY A 79. THIS IS INSANITY, PURE INSANITY I DON’T UNDERSTAND.
If not for his form with Liverpool so far this year, he earned AT LEAST an 80 from his time at Southampton. Since coming to Liverpool, HE’S ONLY GOTTEN BETTER.
This is absurd.
Trent Alexander-Arnold /// CONFIRMED rating: 68 /// RTK’S PREDICTED rating: n/a
We didn’t bring in Alexander-Arnold to the predictions and even we think a 68 might be too much for the player.
Sheyi Ojo /// CONFIRMED rating: 64 /// RTK’S PREDICTED rating: 70
Alright. Maybe a 70 was a bit steep but c’mon, let’s meet in the middle here FIFA. Ojo is more highly regarded than Alexander-Arnold yet he’s four under double A.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – APRIL 02: Daniel Sturridge (L) of Liverpool is replaced by Divock Origi (C) during the Barclays Premier League match between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on April 2, 2016 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Strikers
Sturridge above Origi above Ings, no complains here. A few underestimations, not going to complain about the real figures here!
Daniel Sturridge /// CONFIRMED rating: 84 /// RTK’S PREDICTED rating: 83
Sturridge’s quality is evident which puts FIFA in a tough spot. With how much he’s injured, how high can he realistically be?
An 84 feels absolutely fair, with room to grow with fitness.
Turn injuries off and live a dream.
Divock Origi /// CONFIRMED rating: 78 /// RTK’S PREDICTED rating: 78
Super Divock Origi played fantastic at the end of last season before being hurt, and wasn’t able to play much with Belgium in the Euro’s.
Danny Ings /// CONFIRMED rating: 77 /// RTK’S PREDICTED rating: 76
A bonus for Ings despite not playing all that much due to an ACL injury as he’s still not fully back in the first team, barley making any appearances this season as well as not being on the bench
More from Rush The Kop
This article originally appeared on 
