Preview: West Brom vs Liverpool
Both sides enter the first fixture in February on the back of differing fortunes in their respective derby encounters in the previous game week. First on Tuesday, Liverpool dismantled an Everton side 4-0 at Anfield with Roberto Martinez’s men lucky to escape with only a four goal margin.
West Brom must have thought they were going to run out winners against Aston Villa on Wednesday after they took an early 2-0 lead, however much to new coach Pep Mel’s despair; his side went in at the break level at 3-3, only to see Benteke’s second half penalty hit the back of the net to give Villa all three points.
Last time these sides met, Liverpool cruised to a 4-1 victory at Anfield, with the current Barclays Premier League top-goalscorer bagging a hat-trick to go with a sublime Sturridge chip which ensured all points were clinched.
However, West Brom were then under the stewardship of former Liverpool assistant manager Steve Clarke. Pep Mel has taken charge of The Baggies and although perhaps not a household name in England, he is a well respected coach in Spain – known for an attacking style of football.
Should West Brom open up and try to take the game to Liverpool, it would almost certainly show tactical naivety from Mel, as Liverpool are lethal on the counter attack with the pace of Sterling and Sturridge coupled with the guile and creativity of Coutinho and Suarez.
While Liverpool fans will be going into this encounter confident, spirits have been dampened by a transfer window which saw Liverpool fail to bring in a single player; staggering when you consider that the reds currently have five defenders on the treatment table.
Johnson, Enrique, Coates, Agger and Sakho will all miss out along with midfielder Lucas, although some positive news for Brendan Rodgers is that Joe Allen should at least be fit enough to make the bench.
West Brom have a fresh injury concern of their own, with former Liverpool loanee Nicholas Anelka set to miss the encounter after sustaining a knee injury in the aforementioned derby defeat by Villa. Their only other absentee is midfielder Sessegnon.
By finding the back of the net against Everton, Luis Suarez reached a tally of 23 league goals – the same figure which he managed to muster throughout the whole of last seasons campaign.
He and Sturridge will no doubt be looking to add to their respective goal-tallies against a West Brom side who have only managed three clean sheets all season. Daniel Sturridge will also be looking to rectify his penalty miss against Everton, which would have seen him become only the second player ever to score a hat-trick in a league Merseyside derby.
Raheem Sterling should maintain his place in the side, after continuing his impressive form and one of Suarez or Sturridge will likely start on the left of the attacking trio; however the pair are set to interchange throughout.
Philippe Coutinho is likely to start behind Suarez or Sturridge, supported by Gerrard in a new, deeper role with Henderson pressing high alongside Coutinho in a three man midfield.
Jon Flanagan was fit enough to produce a solid display in the derby – keeping a clean sheet and with the amount of injuries Liverpool currently have, it is hard to see past the same starting eleven against Everton starting against West Brom.
Despite keeping two clean sheets in a row, Liverpool have only kept 7 thus far in the league and therefore that prompts me to suggest that both teams will score, although Liverpool will probably score the lionshare of the goals.
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Prediction: West Brom 1 – 3 Liverpool.
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West Brom XI: Foster; Reid, Lugano, Olsson, Ridgewell; Morrison, Brunt, Mulumbu, Yacob, Amalfitano; Anichebe
Liverpool XI: Mignolet; Flanagan, Skrtel, Toure, Cissokho; Henderson, Gerrard, Coutinho; Sterling, Suarez, Sturridge
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Betting Tips:
- Suarez or Sturridge to score two or more.
- Total match goals: Over 3.5.
- Liverpool to win and both teams to score.
- Mulumbu and Yacob both to get booked.
- Raheem Sterling to score and Liverpool to win.