No excuses
this was a must win match.
The businessend of the season and no time to falter. Time and again we
had struggled at the Hawthorns and against physicality of a Tony Pulis team
whether it Stoke or West Brom has always represented a stern test.
Without
Sadio Mané (out for the season), Danny Ings (long-term), with Jordan
Henderson and Adam Lallana recuperating overseas in an attempt to return before
the seasons end, Liverpool were shorn of potential match winners relying extensively
on the talents of Coutinho and Firmino which made it all the more surprising to
see the Brazilian duo languishing on the bench.
The third
Brazilian, Lucas Leiva again started, but this time more in a holding midfield
role than one of three centre-backs as he started against Stoke.
Once again
Liverpool were slow out of the traps and were almost caught out in the first
minute when Philipps’ miscued shot fell just out of reach of Hal
Robson-Kanu. Liverpool were finding it
hard to break down or get beyond Stoke’s rigid formation which was blunting their
attempts to play a fluid game even with 73 per cent of possession.
Coutinho
latching on to a mistake in the centre of West Brom’s midfield drove to the
edge of the area before releasing Firmino on his left. The forward looked up for support before shooting
beyond the far post. Firmino showed his
other side, getting a featherbed touch to his defensive header as Chadli cocked
his leg in anticipation of volleying West Brom into the lead.
Liverpool’s
better quality showed in the crispness of our moves and one such move saw Firmino
float a striking pass over the right-back which Coutinho volleyed on the slide
just wide of the far post.
Even with
Liverpool’s dominance, the next clear cut chance fell to Robson-Kanu found
delightfully by a beautiful through ball from Livermore between the centre-backs.
The striker turned before scuttling his shot along the ground into the waiting
hands of Mignolet.
The game,
scrappy in its nature looked to be meandering towards half-time until West Brom
gave away a free kick on the right.
Milner’s free kick whipped in to
the edge of the area was flicked on by Lucas to find Firmino coming late on the
blind side to head in beyond Foster.
The
second-half was always going one of mental strength, but Liverpool having fought
back from one down at Stoke the previous weekend, were in no mood to let it
slip with accusations that they are not the same team without talisman Sadio
Mane.
In a bid to
starve West Brom of any set pieces as the manager had instructed, Liverpool comfortably
kept the ball away from the home team.
Origi, getting the ball out from under his feet curled an attempt just
past the post and then a breath-taking move involving Clyne and Firmino ended
with him finding an unmarked Milner arriving unmarked at far post before
unbelievably blazing his volley over from close range.
With
Liverpool seeing the game out comfortably, Rodden against the run of play sent
Phillips clear with just over 10 minutes to go, Mignolet read his low shot
brilliantly to deny him saving with his legs.
West Brom
finally got up a head of steam pinning Liverpool back, but final chance fell to
the away side counter-attacking with West Brom keeper up in attack. Alberto Moreno collected the ball with goal
gaping surged into the West Brom and from 35 yards proceeded to hit his shot
wide as the ball curled away in the last moments with final attempt of the
game.
As bad a miss
at it was it utilised the final moments of the game for another three points
without Sadio Mane and Liverpool learning to “win ugly” as the manager had
demanded of his team.
Teams:
WBA: 1 Foster, 25 Dawson, 23 McAuley, 6 Evans, 11 Brunt,
8 Livermore, 5 Yacob, (McClean – 64 mins), 24 Fletcher, 10 Phillips, 4
Robson-Kanu (Robdón), 22 Chadli – Morrison – 61 mins)
Subs: 2 Nyom, 7 Morrison, 9 Robdón, M
Wilson, 13 Myhill, 14 McClean, 47 Field
Liverpool: 22, Mignolet, 2 Clyne, 32 Matip, 6
Lovren, 7 Milner, 5 Wijnaldum, 21 Lucas, 11 Firmino, 27 Origi (Sturridge – 82 mins),
10 Coutinho (Moreno – 90+2)
Subs: 1 Karius, 12 Gomez, 15 Sturridge,
16 Grujic, 18 Moreno, 58 Woodburn, 66 Alexander-Arnold
Referee: Jonathan Moss
Attendance: 25,699
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