da doce： After ‘Red Monday’, as it was dubbed by Sky Sports, ended in a drab 0-0 against Manchester United, Liverpool will be eager to get their tentative title challenge back on track against West Brom. Although some may argue that the Saturday evening kick-off falls into the ‘meh’ category, we at FFC Towers believe it could be season-defining for the Reds.
da betway： Indeed, the Merseysides have not beaten the Baggies in their last three attempts – all have been draws – and are embarking on a run of fixtures that, Everton aside, is pretty friendly up until an end-of-December clash with Manchester City.
Liverpool have often been slammed for not beating the ‘lesser’ teams the Premier League throws at them, so this West Brom challenge could be telling in terms of their credentials and a win will surely boost confidence…
GK – Loris Karius
Karius has been a bit flappy with crosses of late and was extremely shaky against Manchester United, but dropping him out of the action now would not be a wise move on Klopp’s part. The German is clearly viewed as a long-term answer following his summer arrival, so persistence is key.
RB – Nathaniel Clyne
No shock here. Clyne will, barring a late injury, be the right-back for Klopp. The Englishman is reliable defensively and responsible in terms of positioning, which will be key with West Brom likely to rely on crosses and set-pieces.
CB – Joel Matip
The Cameroonian really is looking like a shrewd summer addition. Matip was snapped up on a free from Schalke and looks every inch the classy, ball-playing central defender many billed him as in Germany, with his ability to step out from the back likely to be of use against a West Brom side that will sit deep.
CB – Dejan Lovren
Alongside Matip, Lovren is playing arguably his bets football since relocating to Liverpool from Southampton in 2014. The Croatian plays the back-foot role to his partner’s forward-thinking approach, which has been working well.
LB – James Milner
Converted from being an all-round midfielder, Milner really is shining at left-back. He may not offer the pace and overlapping runs of Alberto Moreno, but he’s far more responsible defensively and is deadly from the penalty spot, which may come in handy.
DM – Jordan Henderson
It was telling that even with Emre Can reintroduced to the XI against Manchester United that Henderson stayed as the deepest of the midfield three. The stand-in England skipper has adjusted to being Klopp’s ‘No.6’, with his energy and composed passing key in turning defence into attack.
CM – Georginio Wijnaldum
Any who were questioning what Wijnaldum offers this Liverpool side will be keeping quiet now after the Manchester United game. The Dutchman was forced to sit out of Monday night’s clash and the Reds were noticeably less effective in funnelling the ball into the final third, which goes to show that the man signed from Newcastle, although not a flashy, headline-grabbing player, is playing a key role in the engine room.
CM – Adam Lallana
It’s no coincidence that Liverpool’s best period of the game against Man United coincided with Lallana’s introduction from the bench in the second half, with the playmaker really thriving in a deeper role. His desire to play the game on the half-turn and look to pick out his advanced team-mates is key in Liverpool’s quick movement of the ball, which will be needed to unlock a stubborn West Brom defence.
LAM – Philippe Coutinho
Coutinho has been forced deeper during the last two games due to injuries to those around him, but with players returning, his normal left-sided berth appears back on the cards. The Brazilian is without doubt Liverpool’s key creative player, while his threat from the edge of the area will be a worry for West Brom.
RAM – Sadio Mane
Mane has been a little quiet over the course of the past few games after his explosive start to life on Merseyside, but he remains a key player under Klopp and can exploit any gaps left by defences with his searing pace.
ST – Roberto Firmino
Some fans may not like it, but Firmino is Liverpool’s most effective striker. Daniel Sturridge may be a better player in a technical sense, but the Brazilian never stops running and boasts an almost telepathic understanding with Coutinho.