Things were smooth sailing for the Reds, until they weren't. Two late goals conceded force Liverpool to drop three points and have to settle for one. The draw will keep West Brom's hopes for avoiding relegation alive while deterring Liverpool's top four chances for the time being.
Game Story:
Liverpool took immediate control of the game as Danny Ings finally got on the score sheet and Liverpool got an early goal for the second game in a row. A fourth minute left-footed strike from the man who hadn't scored since Brendan Rodgers' last game sent the Reds up early. The score remained 1-0 despite a handful more chances, including a great chance for Ings late in the first half that was saved well by Ben Foster, until the 72nd when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain yet again assisted Liverpool's Egyptian King as Mo Salah tied the Premier League record for most goals scored with 31. Alas, this is where things went off the rails.
West Brom have certainly been a bogey team for Liverpool and this did not change. The Baggies found their lifeline through a Jake Livermore goal in the 79th after a scramble in the box led to a volleyed goal from just a few yards out. Then in the 88th, a whipped Chris Brunt free-kick met the head of a free Salomon Rondon and the game was quickly leveled. The Baggie fans erupted in joy as their appreciation for their revitalized team was rewarded with snagging a point of the third-place team in the league from a losing position.
How Did This Happen:
One has to look at several aspects for the reasoning behind the heart-breaking draw. The starting eleven today had three of four spots filled by "back-up" defenders. Alberto Moreno, Joe Gomez, and Ragnar Klavan were all in the starting line-up. Despite all being competent and having proven so, none were truly good enough today. Gomez was poor on the second goal allowing Rondon free, Klavan was handled well by the big Venezuelan all throughout the game as well, and Moreno struggled at times as well especially against a more physical West Brom team. The defense did not allow the Reds to play out from back, Gomez in particular made some errors in his attempts to get attacks going, including back-heeling it straight to a West Brom man in a half sort of clearance. Frankly put, the Reds needed more from the back-up defenders, and they could not get it.
Joe Gomez and Alberto Moreno have been demoted to back-up full-backs as the season has gone on and, between Gomez's injury and Andy Robertson's fine play, both have failed to see action. Both look a bit rusty, especially Gomez who played a full 90 minutes off his injury, however both had to be better than they were today. Gomez is still young and playing a position that is not his first-choice of spot, however neither is Trent Alexander-Arnold and he has been sparkling for Liverpool. Gomez has been burned for not paying attention to his man, be it on crosses or free kicks, multiple times this year and multiple times have those mistakes led to goals. Gomez is, however, full of potential and the argument that right-back is not his natural position is a fair one and it is important to remember to not be too harsh even despite the points dropped. He will get better and one of the more exciting features of next season will be the ability to watch him play in his favored center-back role.
The attack, for what it was worth, had a very nice game and Danny Ings in particular did well to get back on the score sheet. Now he could have done better on his second great chance against Foster perhaps, but Ings was all around the front of the goal creating chances and having a penalty shout as well. Of course, Mo Salah's goal was a highlight as his always are, and the play leading up to the goal, the ball going from Firmino to Chamberlain to Salah, was lovely as always. Aspects of this game, like that goal, may go unremembered because of the result (i.e., Divock Origi and Emre Can's goals at Bournemouth last season) but it is worth saying that the two goals were very bright spots on an otherwise gloomy result.
What's Next:
Roma at home on Tuesday is the fixture Liverpool fans have been waiting for. It is finally here. The team will have to bounce back from this disappointing result and the fans will have to put it out of their mind and put their support behind the team, as they always have on these big European nights. From there, it's a home bout with second-from-bottom Stoke in what is a big game for top four qualification through the league.
Game Story:
Liverpool took immediate control of the game as Danny Ings finally got on the score sheet and Liverpool got an early goal for the second game in a row. A fourth minute left-footed strike from the man who hadn't scored since Brendan Rodgers' last game sent the Reds up early. The score remained 1-0 despite a handful more chances, including a great chance for Ings late in the first half that was saved well by Ben Foster, until the 72nd when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain yet again assisted Liverpool's Egyptian King as Mo Salah tied the Premier League record for most goals scored with 31. Alas, this is where things went off the rails.
West Brom have certainly been a bogey team for Liverpool and this did not change. The Baggies found their lifeline through a Jake Livermore goal in the 79th after a scramble in the box led to a volleyed goal from just a few yards out. Then in the 88th, a whipped Chris Brunt free-kick met the head of a free Salomon Rondon and the game was quickly leveled. The Baggie fans erupted in joy as their appreciation for their revitalized team was rewarded with snagging a point of the third-place team in the league from a losing position.
How Did This Happen:
One has to look at several aspects for the reasoning behind the heart-breaking draw. The starting eleven today had three of four spots filled by "back-up" defenders. Alberto Moreno, Joe Gomez, and Ragnar Klavan were all in the starting line-up. Despite all being competent and having proven so, none were truly good enough today. Gomez was poor on the second goal allowing Rondon free, Klavan was handled well by the big Venezuelan all throughout the game as well, and Moreno struggled at times as well especially against a more physical West Brom team. The defense did not allow the Reds to play out from back, Gomez in particular made some errors in his attempts to get attacks going, including back-heeling it straight to a West Brom man in a half sort of clearance. Frankly put, the Reds needed more from the back-up defenders, and they could not get it.
Joe Gomez and Alberto Moreno have been demoted to back-up full-backs as the season has gone on and, between Gomez's injury and Andy Robertson's fine play, both have failed to see action. Both look a bit rusty, especially Gomez who played a full 90 minutes off his injury, however both had to be better than they were today. Gomez is still young and playing a position that is not his first-choice of spot, however neither is Trent Alexander-Arnold and he has been sparkling for Liverpool. Gomez has been burned for not paying attention to his man, be it on crosses or free kicks, multiple times this year and multiple times have those mistakes led to goals. Gomez is, however, full of potential and the argument that right-back is not his natural position is a fair one and it is important to remember to not be too harsh even despite the points dropped. He will get better and one of the more exciting features of next season will be the ability to watch him play in his favored center-back role.
The attack, for what it was worth, had a very nice game and Danny Ings in particular did well to get back on the score sheet. Now he could have done better on his second great chance against Foster perhaps, but Ings was all around the front of the goal creating chances and having a penalty shout as well. Of course, Mo Salah's goal was a highlight as his always are, and the play leading up to the goal, the ball going from Firmino to Chamberlain to Salah, was lovely as always. Aspects of this game, like that goal, may go unremembered because of the result (i.e., Divock Origi and Emre Can's goals at Bournemouth last season) but it is worth saying that the two goals were very bright spots on an otherwise gloomy result.
What's Next:
Roma at home on Tuesday is the fixture Liverpool fans have been waiting for. It is finally here. The team will have to bounce back from this disappointing result and the fans will have to put it out of their mind and put their support behind the team, as they always have on these big European nights. From there, it's a home bout with second-from-bottom Stoke in what is a big game for top four qualification through the league.
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