West Bromwich Albion vs Liverpool

14th May

Albion are back in action against the 2019/20 Premier League champions Liverpool on Sunday afternoon at The Hawthorns (ko 4.30pm).

Liverpool

Their last time out

The Reds recorded an impressive 4-2 win at rivals Manchester United on Thursday night, keeping their top four hopes alive.

Diogo Jota equalised after Bruno Fernandes had opened the scoring and Roberto Firmino put Liverpool ahead on the stroke of half-time. The Brazilian forward added his second and Liverpool's third shortly after the restart before Marcus Rashford made it 3-2. However, Mo Salah was on hand to secure all three points, making it 4-2 in the final minute.

In the dugout

Jurgen Klopp is approaching the end of his sixth season at Anfield having also managed Mainz and Borussia Dortmund in his home nation Germany.

The charismatic boss has won four trophies with the Reds including the 2019/20 Premier League title, the 2018/19 Champions League crown, the 2019 Super Cup and the 2019 Club World Cup.

Klopp has transformed Liverpool from European contenders to title contenders during his time at the helm, and despite this season’s inconsistent run of form and results which sees them sitting outside the Champions League places, the 53-year-old will be determined to offer a greater challenge to Manchester City in the 2021/22 campaign.

Many supporters and pundits see Liverpool’s lower than expected position to be as a result of key long-term injuries to defenders Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip. Midfielders Jordan Henderson and Thiago have also missed plenty of football, as has striker Diogo Jota. Once Klopp has all his stars back fit and firing, expect the Reds reset their sights on the summit once again.

One to watch

Brazilian forward Roberto Firmino bagged a brace in Liverpool's win at Old Trafford on Thursday night and the 29-year will now be targeting double figures from the 2020/21 campaign.

Firmino's two goals against Manchester United were his first since the Reds' victory at Spurs in January, leaving him on eight for the campaign.

The striker has scored twice against the Baggies before, and after finding his goalscoring touch once again earlier on this week, he'll be determined to find the net at The Hawthorns.

Our last meeting

Albion earned an impressive 1-1 draw with the Reds in what was Sam Allardyce’s second game in charge of the club back in late December.

Semi Ajayi headed in an equaliser with less than ten minutes remaining after Senegal international Sadio mane had given the hosts an early lead.

Albion have gone four games unbeaten against Liverpool, winning one and drawing three.

Stats

Albion

The Baggies have lost just one of their last seven home matches
Matheus Pereira has scored five goals in his last six games
The Baggies are unbeaten in their last four against Liverpool

Liverpool

The Reds are unbeaten in their last six games in all competitions
Liverpool have won their last two games, scoring six goals
Mo Salah's goal at Old Trafford was his 30th in all competitions this season

Our one to watch

Matheus Pereira has produced some stunning performances in recent months. The Baggies attacker scored his 10th Premier League goal of the season last weekend at Arsenal – the first Albion player to hit double figures in the top flight since Saido Berahino in 2014/15.

Pereira has scored 10 of his 11 goals in all competitions this season since Sam Allardyce arrived at the club, and his strike at Arsenal means the Brazilian now has five in his last six appearances.

His technical ability and strong eye for goal may just prove crucial if Albion are to spring a surprise on Sunday.

Follow the game

Gez Mulholland will be joined by once midfield-now-microphone maestro Andy Johnson to provide proudly partisan commentary and an expert insight for WBA Radio.

To listen live to Baggies-biased commentary on WBA Radio for free for every home and away match during the 2020/21 season all you have to do is sign up for a free My Albion account.

If you haven't already you can create your My Albion account here. Click Create Account or register quickly with your Facebook or Google account.

Live commentary starts from 15 minutes before kick-off and will be accessible through the live match centre or WBA TV.

If you have any issues registering or accessing your My Albion account please contact myalbion@wbafc.co.uk.

The game is also available to watch on Sky Sports.

16th May

Albion were edged out by Champions League-chasing Liverpool at The Hawthorns on Sunday evening.

The Baggies went in front thanks to Hal Robson-Kanu’s first of the Premier League campaign, but were pegged back by Mohamed Salah’s goal 33 minutes in.

And after a flurry of late chances, the visitors found their winner from the most unlikely source as their goalkeeper Alisson rose highest to head in a stoppage-time corner and seal all three points for the Merseyside outfit.

Sam Allardyce opted to make a couple of changes from last weekend’s defeat at Arsenal, with Grady Diangana coming in for his 50th Albion appearance and Robson-Kanu starting for the first time in the league this season.

Liverpool began strongly - Thiago saw an effort bravely blocked by Semi Ajayi and Nat Phillips headed over - yet the hosts grew into the contest and carved out opportunities of their own.

Ajayi twice nodded wide before the Baggies edged ahead on 15 minutes; the front two combining as Matheus Pereira flicked Robson-Kanu through to finish fantastically past Alisson.

Jurgen Klopp’s men might have equalised quickly after, though, when Sadio Mane missed a good chance from close-range, though they didn’t have to wait long to find a leveller - Salah side-footing home just after the half-hour mark.

And a matter of seconds later they almost took the lead, Mane’s back-heel deflected off Okay Yokuslu and into the path of Roberto Firmino to smash against the crossbar.

There were openings for both teams with an eventful first period coming to an end - Robson-Kanu had a shot blocked when in on goal and Johnstone saved Fabinho’s low strike - but it was 1-1 at the interval.

The Reds came out firing after the half-time break and thought they’d scored within five minutes of the restart, however Mane was judged to have been offside after poking in Salah's delicate cross.

Johnstone had to be at his best to deny the Egyptian forward when he took aim and Firmino hit a couple wide as Liverpool searched for a second - still Albion remained a threat and actually had the ball in the net next.

Kyle Bartley poked in after a corner had run through to him at the back post, but Albion celebrations were cut short after Matt Phillips was alleged to have blocked Alisson’s view in the build-up.

Trent Alexander-Arnold and substitute Gini Wijnaldum hammered late attempts off-target during the final minutes of regular time.

But then a corner deep in stoppage time prompted a rare and astounding moment as goalkeeper Alisson raced up for to meet the delivery, before guiding a header past Johnstone to win Liverpool the game in a crazy end to proceedings in B71.

Albion: Johnstone, Furlong, Ajayi, Bartley, Townsend; Phillips, Gallagher, Yokuslu (Livermore 75), Diangana (Maitland-Niles 73); Pereira, Robson-Kanu (Grant 81).

Substitutes: Button, O’Shea, Peltier, Gardner-Hickman, Robinson, Diagne.

Sunday 16th May 2021 - 16:30