--- title: "Four Findings: West Brom (A)" canonical: "https://readliverpoolfc.com/match-reviews/four-findings-west-brom-a/" type: "post" language: "en-GB" author: "Fred Haas" section: "Liverpool Match Reports" published: "2015-04-27T16:55:43Z" modified: "2015-04-27T16:58:06Z" --- # Four Findings: West Brom (A) With only an outside chance to catch the top four, Liverpool failed to even stay in the hunt against West Bromwich Albion, at The Hawthornes, drawing 0-0. Despite controlling possession in the match almost entirely, the Reds could not find a way to breakdown a disciplined Tony Pulis side that only looked at venturing forward only when Liverpool all but invited them into their defensive third. For Liverpool’s part, the match was a droll display of passing around the perimeter by what looked like a makeshift starting eleven unfamiliar with one another. There was little in the way of action or excitement. In fact, there was not even a whole lot of movement or creativity on display to stretch the Baggies in any direction, as West Brom dropped into a deep, compact shell in hopes of earning a draw or, at best, stealing a home win. Here are four finding from Saturday’s game. **No penetration, no finishing** Early in Brendan Rodgers’ managerial tenure the criticism was the team retained possession with no penetration. This season has served as a bit of a time loop for the Reds with a handful of issues from Rodgers’ arrival returning. Liverpool dominated possession with over 70% but it yielded nothing but a handful of shots from outside the box in the first half. Mario Balotelli, neither led the line nor drove into the penalty area, and both Raheem Sterling and Jordan Ibe withered out wide without making much impact. It was not until nearly an hour into the match before Liverpool began driving into the box and trying to force the issue. Apart from Jordan Henderson failing to punch home a scrappy goalmouth opportunity, and Ibe working a combination with Balotelli to get behind the defence at the near post and rip a shot off the woodwork, there was very little to test Baggies goalkeeper Boaz Myhill. Philippe Coutinho grew into the match and worked the edge of the area in search of a shot with little result. There were more chances created in the second half, but any shots on target were easily grabbed by the keeper. **Balotelli bust** Given how long and how much the Italian has struggled to get a starting opportunity, he did little to warrant another. It should also be clear that Rodgers has not helped him at all, insisting on playing him as a lone striker, when he is arguably the least equipped striker on the roster for that role. Still, Balotelli lingered behind the ball during build-up play, rather than making dangerous runs, and spent the majority of his 75 minutes flopping around the pitch in hopes that the referee would whistle for a foul – to no avail. His decision making was particularly suspect as was his touch. With the exception of his excellent layoff to Ibe, he consistently took shots from 20+ yards and seemed unaware of where the six yard box was. His entire performance was illustrated by taking a free kick 30 yards out, instead of looking to get on the end of service, whereupon he could not even beat the first man with a low, direct drive that was easily blocked, completely ineffective, and forced Liverpool to regroup and recycle possession. It is increasingly harder to see how Balotelli fits into this squad and it seems like the manager is equally uninterested in getting the best out of him anyway. It will be an interesting summer for both of men. **Lovren looked fair** Having slated Dejan Lovren for most of the season it seems only fair to highlight when he played soundly. This was by far his best performance in months since becoming a Red. He looked more decisive and confident than he ever has, even clearing a potential goal off the line, one of the two dangerous West Brom chances. Essentially playing as a left center half in what was more of a three back system helped limit the number of critical decisions he had to make. Plus Steven Gerrard spent most of his time favouring the left side, providing a steadying outlet for the Croatian defender. Combined with Henderson and Sterling a little higher, he completed 89% percent of his passes with the vast majority short touches to the captain. Yet, as well as he played, the best that could be said was that he finally looked capable and less like a calamity-waiting-to-happen. He looked like a defender that could defend and had license to attack the ball with assurances of plenty of cover. Still, there was nothing in the performance that suggests that he should play before a healthy Mamadou Sakho. **Farewell Gerrard** Making his 500th appearance for the only team he has ever played, Steven Gerrard’s final days in a Liverpool shirt seem progressively more tragic. The one-time talisman that dragged his side to great heights is simply gone. Cruelly, he is not even the player that he was last season. Time and tears have taken their toll on arguably the Red’s greatest and the team is no longer set up to even take advantage of the skill set that remains. Were it not for injuries, after his performance in last week’s FA Cup fiasco, any other player would not have even started. In fact, with the exception of the final match at Anfield, he should start no longer. He can still potentially make an impact off the bench in a more dangerous position than the deep pivot. Plus, without the demands of a full 90 minute shift, he will even have the legs to conjure some magic yet. Given the alternatives available to Rodgers and the reality that this years’s squad has foundered all pre-season goals, it is painfully time to prepare for the next campaign and the post-Gerrard era.