Eleven changes with the likes of Lucas, Skrtel, Flanagan, Ibe, Ojo, Allen and Benteke all fighting for a place on the bench in the final. Jordan Henderson’s return to the bench meant a sure fire addition to the Europa Cup Final squad.
Danny Ings scheduled to come back to first team duties next season from a ruptured cruciate ligament done training in October was named on the substitutes bench, a testimony to his drive and determination.
Better finishing and we may have been on the end of heavy beating.
Rondan missed a host of chances as once again a Liverpool defence failed to handle the speed and power of an opposition striker. Skrtel and Lucas failed to instil any confidence. Liverpool had plenty of possession throughout without being able to get behind the Baggies defence.
Disappointment of the match was Christian Benteke. He spoke beforehand of his willingness to stay beyond this season as there was unfinished business. Right now with his physical attributes he should be bullying defences throughout matches in the same way his compatriot Divock Origi does from the start of games.
Instead, we get an apologist for a powerhouse striker, bumbling and falling about with the slightest touch.
Benteke is devoid of confidence when called upon to lead the line. He makes the wrong runs and is forever caught on his heels appearing a fraction of section too late to get on the end of crosses. While some may say Liverpool do not play to his attributes and those crosses are few and far between, those attributes I speak of should make him a nightmare to play against.
Instead, Bentenke at his best as magnificent a headerer of the ball in the Premier and is so much more than that, has been been reduced to a bit part player. Right now, when he starts matches Benteke couldn’t find the net with a map and compass.
Conversely, when he comes on as a substitute he has shown the ability is there, thus one can only think it’s down to mental attitude.
In the match itself, Liverpool lost out to goal which could and could have been avoided. Allen, lost the ball with a careless pass picked up by the impressive Leko who burst past the Welshman’s token tackle before slotting in Rondon, who slammed home his finish inside the near post.
Bogdan it what was probably his final start for Liverpool will have been disappointed to have been beaten on his near post.
Liverpool soon regain parity with a stunning goal. And what a goal.
Jordon Ibe scored a goal of world class proportions. Picking the ball up on the right just inside the half, the winger left Northern Ireland international Jonny Evans in a crumpled heap before speeding off towards the area, where cutting inside he induced Jonas Olsson legs into betraying him as he collapsed outbalanced to the ground as he buried a left shot into the bottom corner.
It was a stunning goal and the embodiment of Jordon Ibe’s footballing ability. It was just a pity that he came nowhere near that piece of play again, often losing the ball with misplaced passes and poor control.
Next season is an important season for the layer and one wonders whether he will be farmed out on loan, but where ever Ibe is he most push on.
Like so many matches recently, this was an opportunity missed for us as a victory could have given us a Europa place for next season. Too many thrown away points recently could have seen us challenge for a Champions League place and if we’ve learnt anything from our performances this season, let alone Leicester’s, is that we have to find some assemblance of consistency or else it will be another season of opportunities lost in the League.
The multiple changes highlighted the need for major surgery in the transfer market. We were inadequate with an inability to turn quality possession into chances and weak in defence. Bogdan, Skrtel, Lucas, Allen and Benteke, despite his protestations, must wonder if they will ever play for Liverpool again in the Premier League again.
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