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Liverpool 2-1 West Brom
by James Nalton
at Anfield
AN OUTSTANDING first-half performance from Liverpool carried them to victory against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.
The opening goal from the home side was an excellent team display of skill, flowing football, and incisiveness on the break.
Philippe Coutinho dummied James Milner’s pass, taking two West Brom defenders out of the game as it rolled through to Emre Can.
Can drove forward, found Roberto Firmino on the left, and the Brazilian’s left footed cross found Sadio Mane who volleyed home with aplomb.
Coutinho added a second before half time, leaving the visitors with a mountain to climb.
West Brom threatened later in the second half, though, as their manager Tony Pulis made some uncharacteristic changes.
“Coming in at half time at 2-0 down you’re staring down the barrel,” said Pulis. “I had a good chat with them and we wanted, which we never do, to put the wide players up and inside more.”
Their goal finally came from a set piece, with Gareth McAuley firing the ball in as it landed at his feet from a corner.
Pulis said he thought his side could have got something from the game had they scored earlier.
Had Liverpool not conceded they would have been top of the league on Saturday evening. “Who wants to be top in October?” retorted Jurgen Klopp when this was put to him.
“Obviously not having a clean sheet is part of our game,” said the Reds manager. “This game tonight created one of the best atmospheres we had, because it was exciting until the end.”
In light of rumblings that Steven Gerrard will leave LA Galaxy at the end of the MLS season, the Liverpool boss left the door open for his return, and hinted that they’d already spoken about it.
“Steven Gerrard is always so welcome at Liverpool FC, you cannot imagine how welcome,” he said.
“Everything that we have already, or will speak to each other [about] stays in this talk, stays in this situation. That’s how I know Stevie, that’s how I am. But nobody should be worried that there is no space for Steven Gerrard, everything will be fine.”
