Liverpool were really put to the test in their last English Premier League game at Newcastle. Brendan Rodgers’ men managed to manufacture a hard-earned point, albeit despite playing with a man advantage for the entire second half.
The Reds need to show they can indeed continue to pick up points, irrespective of the fixtures, if they are to maintain their serious push for the Premier League title. The next test comes on Saturday, against West Brom at Anfield.
West Brom, after a difficult start have picked up form slowly but surely and will be confident of causing an upset after their brilliant win over Liverpool’s rivals Manchester United not so long ago.
Liverpool, third on 17 points from eight matches, have a pretty good record at home, winning three of their four games, even if their only loss of the season, to Southampton, came at Anfield.
The Reds also have the luxury of banking on strikers Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez, both of whom have shown excellent form.
However, in West Brom, who are slowly creeping up the table with 10 points from eight games, Liverpool come up against a side not too dissimilar from Southampton, the only team to beat them this season.
Steve Clarke, a former assistant at Liverpool, has a pretty decent squad at his disposal, and weapons all across the pitch capable of finding that moment of quality which can make the difference between three points and none.
“They’ve got a solid team and a solid defence,” Rodgers said of West Brom. “They’ve got a really good structure their team who are strong and can pass well. We know it’s a difficult game, but every game is difficult in this league whether it’s home or away. We need to work out how to solve these problems and overcome them.”
West Brom did the double over Liverpool last season, while also winning at Anfield in April, 2012 and Rodgers will know the importance of ending that particular run.
A couple of goals apiece from Suarez and Sturridge will do nicely for Liverpool, at least that is what Rodgers and the Anfield faithful will be hoping for.
Team News: Philippe Coutinho remains sidelined for Liverpool, while Jose Enrique is also ruled out, which means Aly Cissokho is set for a start as left-wingback or left-back depending on Rodgers’ chosen formation.
Scott Sinclair (hamstring) is ruled out for West Brom along with long-term absentees Ben Foster (foot), Zoltan Gera (hamstring) and George Thorne (knee). Clarke, who is keen to get three points yet again against his former club, said nobody is guaranteed a place in the starting lineup, with the manager left with a pretty strong squad to play with.
“Nobody is guaranteed their place,” Clarke said. “We’ve got good competition in every position and from game to game my job is to decide what the best starting XI is for that particular match.
“That was the thinking last week and it will be the thinking again today at Liverpool, next week and the following week. We have to make the best of what we’ve got.”
Where to watch
The game is scheduled for a 7.30 p.m. IST start on Saturday with live coverage on ESPN HD and Star Sports 2. You can also watch the match live online by clicking the official link HERE. For other links, click HERE.
Expected lineups: Liverpool: Mignolet; Toure, Skrtel, Sakho; Henderson, Lucas, Gerrard, Moses, Cissokho; Sturridge, Suarez.
West Brom: Myhill; Jones, McAuley, Olsson, Ridgewell; Yacob, Mulumbu; Amalfitano, Sessegnon, Berahino; Anelka.
Prediction: 1-1
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