With the Champions League semi-finals on the horizon, one could imagine that Liverpool are overlooking bottom-place West Brom on the weekend. However, with their victory over Manchester United last weekend, the Baggies have made clear that they will not be relegated quietly. Kick-off is at 7:30 AM EST Saturday morning.
Team News:
Liverpool were given an injury boost with the likely availability of Dejan Lovren and Joe Gomez for the matches. Gomez had been sidelined for a few weeks while Lovren came off in last week's match against Bournemouth with a hobble. It is expected that at least one man will take part in the weekend's match with Gomez perhaps spelling Trent Alexander-Arnold since Nathaniel Clyne has been ruled out. Clyne is suffering from what manager Jurgen Klopp has called a "muscle issue" and will be more than likely ruled out from tomorrow's trip.
There is still little to no new news on any of the Reds two of the three long-term absences from the first team, those men being Adam Lallana and Emre Can. Both are "in a good way" as described by Klopp, however it remains to be seen if either will feature in a match before the end of the season. As you'll recall, the third long-term absence is Joel Matip. Matip, Klopp has confirmed again, will be out for the remainder of the season but will make his return for pre-season. As it has stood, Liverpool will have gone the entire season without their pre-season projected starting eleven all entirely healthy for a single game.
West Brom has been given a big injury boost as Jonny Evans and Hal Robson-Kanu both will return to contention for the starting line-up. Evans has been out the past two games with a knee problem while Robson-Kanu was sidelined with a concussion. Nacer Chadli is also gaining match fitness but seems unlikely to see the bench. With Daniel Sturridge unavailable to play his parent club, Robson-Kanu seems like a fit right onto the substitute spot, while it must be seen whether Darren Moore will tinker with a side that has clicked well the past two games.
Projected Liverpool Line-Up: Karius; Alexander-Arnold, van Dijk, Lovren, Robertson; Henderson, Wijnaldum, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Salah, Firmino, Mane
Projected West Brom Line-Up: Foster; Nyom, Dawson, Hegazy, Gibbs; Phillips, Livermore, Brunt, McClean; Rodriguez, Rondon
Previewing the Game:
Liverpool have already played West Brom twice, both times against an Alan Pardew side, and neither going according to plan. First was a league cup in which Dominic Solanke had a goal ruled out for handball, then an FA Cup where Liverpool struck early but then conceded three times in the first half en route to a 3-2 loss. This will be the first away game against the Baggies this year and a reversal of fortunes against a team playing with confidence is hoped to be in order.
Chelsea's victory over Burnley means that nothing has seriously changed in order for a Champions League spot to change. Victories in the next two put it in their hands. A loss here and a Swansea victory over Manchester City would put confirm West Brom's relegation making Swansea uncatchable and putting Crystal Palace ten points out front with three games to play. While it seems near-inevitable that they will go down, the recent results of four points in their past two games have provided hope for some fans that they can float up past Stoke, Southampton, and Swansea or Crystal Palace and survive for one more season in the top flight.
As the season winds down, this seems to have all the makings of a trap game for Liverpool. Their minds are focused on bigger things while West Brom is playing tough football attempting to scrap out points at home in an effort to get out of the drop zone at any means necessary. It is not too difficult to see where West Brom's returners from injury would fit into the line-up, Robson-Kanu in for a struggling Matt Phillips and the possibility of Evans coming in for Rondon to make a back five, but the question of if they will be used is the most important one. West Brom needs points and likely need a win in at least three of their final four to climb out of the drop zone. Selection for Moore will be crucial.
On the other hand, Liverpool's defense must find a counter for West Brom's talisman Jay Rodriguez. Rodriguez scored twice in the FA Cup tie and scored West Brom's last two goals. He is hot right now and it will come down to the center-back pairing of Virgil van Dijk and (most likely) Dejan Lovren to slow down whatever attack the Baggies send. Rondon is the threat in the air which is something that seems to line-up nicely against van Dijk in Liverpool's favor, but this leaves Rodriguez room to roam and necessitates Lovren to have a firm hand in stopping this. Under Tony Pulis, saying "the key to the game may be stopping West Brom's attack" would have been laughable, but things have changed and Liverpool must be aware.
Final Thoughts:
Ties with relegation teams are always tough. There is certainly fear for Liverpool in overlooking West Brom and getting upended like their rivals Manchester United did. Darren Moore has them playing well, but this is a consistently motivated team that is in strong form. The "A" team seems likely to come out, and thus I will predict a scoreline in Liverpool's favor.
Score Projection: Liverpool 2: West Brom 0:
West Brom will come out motivated assuredly, however I find it difficult to believe that Liverpool won't do the same. Top four is in their grasp and this is the final tune-up before the biggest home game in years for Liverpool on Tuesday. I'll take Liverpool in a cool 2-0 victory.
Team News:
Liverpool were given an injury boost with the likely availability of Dejan Lovren and Joe Gomez for the matches. Gomez had been sidelined for a few weeks while Lovren came off in last week's match against Bournemouth with a hobble. It is expected that at least one man will take part in the weekend's match with Gomez perhaps spelling Trent Alexander-Arnold since Nathaniel Clyne has been ruled out. Clyne is suffering from what manager Jurgen Klopp has called a "muscle issue" and will be more than likely ruled out from tomorrow's trip.
There is still little to no new news on any of the Reds two of the three long-term absences from the first team, those men being Adam Lallana and Emre Can. Both are "in a good way" as described by Klopp, however it remains to be seen if either will feature in a match before the end of the season. As you'll recall, the third long-term absence is Joel Matip. Matip, Klopp has confirmed again, will be out for the remainder of the season but will make his return for pre-season. As it has stood, Liverpool will have gone the entire season without their pre-season projected starting eleven all entirely healthy for a single game.
West Brom has been given a big injury boost as Jonny Evans and Hal Robson-Kanu both will return to contention for the starting line-up. Evans has been out the past two games with a knee problem while Robson-Kanu was sidelined with a concussion. Nacer Chadli is also gaining match fitness but seems unlikely to see the bench. With Daniel Sturridge unavailable to play his parent club, Robson-Kanu seems like a fit right onto the substitute spot, while it must be seen whether Darren Moore will tinker with a side that has clicked well the past two games.
Projected Liverpool Line-Up: Karius; Alexander-Arnold, van Dijk, Lovren, Robertson; Henderson, Wijnaldum, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Salah, Firmino, Mane
Projected West Brom Line-Up: Foster; Nyom, Dawson, Hegazy, Gibbs; Phillips, Livermore, Brunt, McClean; Rodriguez, Rondon
Previewing the Game:
Liverpool have already played West Brom twice, both times against an Alan Pardew side, and neither going according to plan. First was a league cup in which Dominic Solanke had a goal ruled out for handball, then an FA Cup where Liverpool struck early but then conceded three times in the first half en route to a 3-2 loss. This will be the first away game against the Baggies this year and a reversal of fortunes against a team playing with confidence is hoped to be in order.
Chelsea's victory over Burnley means that nothing has seriously changed in order for a Champions League spot to change. Victories in the next two put it in their hands. A loss here and a Swansea victory over Manchester City would put confirm West Brom's relegation making Swansea uncatchable and putting Crystal Palace ten points out front with three games to play. While it seems near-inevitable that they will go down, the recent results of four points in their past two games have provided hope for some fans that they can float up past Stoke, Southampton, and Swansea or Crystal Palace and survive for one more season in the top flight.
As the season winds down, this seems to have all the makings of a trap game for Liverpool. Their minds are focused on bigger things while West Brom is playing tough football attempting to scrap out points at home in an effort to get out of the drop zone at any means necessary. It is not too difficult to see where West Brom's returners from injury would fit into the line-up, Robson-Kanu in for a struggling Matt Phillips and the possibility of Evans coming in for Rondon to make a back five, but the question of if they will be used is the most important one. West Brom needs points and likely need a win in at least three of their final four to climb out of the drop zone. Selection for Moore will be crucial.
On the other hand, Liverpool's defense must find a counter for West Brom's talisman Jay Rodriguez. Rodriguez scored twice in the FA Cup tie and scored West Brom's last two goals. He is hot right now and it will come down to the center-back pairing of Virgil van Dijk and (most likely) Dejan Lovren to slow down whatever attack the Baggies send. Rondon is the threat in the air which is something that seems to line-up nicely against van Dijk in Liverpool's favor, but this leaves Rodriguez room to roam and necessitates Lovren to have a firm hand in stopping this. Under Tony Pulis, saying "the key to the game may be stopping West Brom's attack" would have been laughable, but things have changed and Liverpool must be aware.
Final Thoughts:
Ties with relegation teams are always tough. There is certainly fear for Liverpool in overlooking West Brom and getting upended like their rivals Manchester United did. Darren Moore has them playing well, but this is a consistently motivated team that is in strong form. The "A" team seems likely to come out, and thus I will predict a scoreline in Liverpool's favor.
Score Projection: Liverpool 2: West Brom 0:
West Brom will come out motivated assuredly, however I find it difficult to believe that Liverpool won't do the same. Top four is in their grasp and this is the final tune-up before the biggest home game in years for Liverpool on Tuesday. I'll take Liverpool in a cool 2-0 victory.
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