Liverpool face Steve Clarke’s West Brom side this weekend hoping to prolong their stay in the Premier League top four. The Reds are coming off the back of a somewhat unconvincing performance drawing against a Newcastle side who were a player short for half of the game. With games against top of the table Arsenal and a Merseyside derby in succession, a home win against the Baggies is critical.
West Brom have had a relatively positive season so far with an impressive away win at Old Trafford, which was a game they thoroughly deserved three points out of. Another notable performance was when they hosted Arsenal where they can consider themselves unlucky to not pick up the victory. Having played well, in the end they had to settle for a draw. With 8 points from a possible twelve in their last 4 games, the Midlands club will be setting their sights on getting something out of Liverpool, whom they picked up maximum points off last season.
Rodgers’ men cannot take them lightly as West Brom have more than enough fire-power to hurt his side. The counter-attacking prowess of Stephane Sessegnon, Morgan Amalfitano and Saido Berahino is something to watch out for. The power and strength of Victor Anichebe up front can also cause problems for the Liverpool back-line. West Brom also compliments one of the best midfield pivots in the league with Youssouf Mulumbu and Claudio Yacob, a duo that is rarely gotten the better of.
However, one part of the West Brom team that is questionable is their defence. The immobility of Liam Ridgewell, Jonas Olsson, Billy Jones and Gareth McCauley is certainly an area Liverpool should look to be exploiting.
West Brom come into the game with a relatively full-strength side barring their first-choice goalkeeper Ben Foster and new signing Scott Sinclair – through injury.
Predicted WBA line-up:
Myhill; Jones, Olsson, McCauley, Ridgewell; Mulumbu, Yacob; Amalfitano, Berahino, Sessegnon; Anichebe (4-2-3-1)
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Liverpool would have hoped for midfield starlet Phillipe Coutinho to have been fit for this one but it seems that it’s come a bit early for the Brazilian. Rodgers now has the dilemma of continuing with Victor Moses in the number ten role, or trying something new with Jordan Henderson in there and possibly bringing back Joe Allen into the midfield. Lucas is also available after missing out last weekend due to personal reasons, giving the Liverpool coach more options in the centre of midfield.
The question remains whether vice-captain Daniel Agger will come back into the side after being stuck on the bench in recent games. After conceding two goals in the last game, the Dane is surely in Rodgers’ thoughts. Expect Aly Cissokho to continue in his left wing-back role after impressing last weekend against the Magpies (and with Jose Enrique carrying a niggling knee injury). The Reds have no other injury concerns barring Iago Aspas.
With the most potent strike-force in the league in Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge, I expect Liverpool to pick up three points in this one. Although do not expect a routine victory as West Brom pose a real threat.
Predicted LFC line-up:
Mignolet; Toure, Skrtel, Sakho; Johnson, Gerrard, Henderson, Cissokho; Moses; Suarez, Sturridge (3-4-1-2)
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Below are my five bets for Saturday’s game:
1) Liverpool to win 2-1. To follow John and bet with BetVictor, click here
2) Steven Gerrard to score at any time. To follow John and bet with BetVictor, click here
3) Claudio Yacob to be booked at any time. To follow John and bet with BetVictor, click here
4) Simon Mignolet to make more than 5 saves. To follow John and bet with BetVictor, click here
5) Luis Suarez to be named man of the match. To follow John and bet with BetVictor, click here
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