After Monday night’s surprising 1-0 loss to rock-bottom Swansea City, Jurgen Klopp will be looking to right the wrongs of the match, and look forward to reaching the fifth round of the FA Cup by defeating an out of sorts West Bromwich Albion.
After wiping this season’s dominant Premier League force Manchester City away in a 4-3 thrill ride two weeks ago, thrills suddenly became chills as Liverpool repeated an all too familiar trait of losing against lesser opposition.
After the £75 million acquisition of Southampton centre-back Virgil van Dijk, it was thought that he could help the Reds to sort out the many defensive issues in an otherwise brilliant team.
However, this was not to be the case against Swansea, as the Dutchman’s header led to the Swans’ only goal, and Liverpool’s first loss in 18 games.
Jurgen Klopp’s team will be looking to bounce back against West Brom to book a place in the next FA Cup round.
Here are five things to watch for when West Brom visit Anfield.
1. Defensive Issues
Even after Liverpool broke the world-record transfer fee for a defender when spending £75 million on Virgil van Dijk, this hasn’t completely solved the bigger defence problem.
With a poor header downwards, which Swansea’s Alfie Mawson lapped up and converted home, van Dijk made his first, and costly mistake in a Liverpool shirt as this lost the Reds the three points.
YouTube: Liverpool vs Swansea City 0-1 Highlights & All Goals (22/01/2018) HD
This is, however, symbolic of the wider issue of the Liverpool backline.
VvD can make a big impact for Liverpool Football Club, however, he needs the support and the ability to form a consistent back four.
With the consistency will come the success which the Reds need at the back.
2. Chance Creation in Final Third
If there is an area in the team that Liverpool are most strong in, then it is up front.
The attacking quality and talent available to Jurgen Klopp is enough to score an abudance of goals over the course of the season.
This is something which the Reds are using, with summer recruit Mohamed Salah leading the way on 18 league goals in 23 appearances.
Against a lacklustre West Bromwich Albion defence, the attack at the spearhead of the Liverpool front line should be enough to do massive damage.
3. Danny Ings
The Englishman has made a return to the Liverpool first team after a long period on the sidelines due to injury.
Now fit and firing, Ings looks like he’ll get a chance to impress on Saturday and with Dominic Solanke struggling for goals and Daniel Sturridge looking for a transfer, Ings has the chance to jump up the pecking order.
4. Breaking Down Teams
One thing that Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool have struggled to do throughout his reign, is the lack of success against the so-called ‘lesser’ opposition of the Premier League.
Memorable losses to Burnley at the start of the 2016/17 season, Crystal Palace at home and now Swansea this season prove that Liverpool need to work on this aspect of their game.
Against the ‘Big 6’, Klopp boasts the best record, only losing twice in his 20 games against the Premier League elite.
One of the reasons for this conundrum could be because of Klopp’s geigenpressing style of attacking football.
This style of play allows the forward line to bully teams which play out from the back with wave after wave of lethal counter-attacks.
However, when teams come to Anfield and play with two banks of four to invite the pressure, said pressure seems to get to the Reds.
If Klopp wants to truly fulfil his title-winning ambitions, then this problem needs to be overcame. A cup game against a West Brom side that earned a 0-0 earlier this season will be another test.
5. Jordan Henderson
Liverpool’s captain is back fit and he islikely to start this game. The England star was in poor form before his injury so he’ll be hoping to show the Anfield faithful that he’s still a player worth sticking with for the long-term.