Liverpool paid the price for failing to kill off the game as they were held to a 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion at Anfield.
If Sam Allardyce was buoyed by boasting the unusual distinction of being the last Premier League manager to win at Anfield – when his Crystal Palace side won 2-1 on Merseyside in April 2017 – then it didn’t seem to have much impact on his approach.
The Baggies immediately set out on a damage limitation exercise but could hold out just 12 minutes before Sadio Mane made a breakthrough. With the Reds enjoying almost 80 per cent possession, there looked to be little chance of them relinquishing that lead with only Allardyce’s pragmatism keeping them at bay.
That was until Costa Pereira whipped the ball in to Semi Ajayi for his first Premier League goal in the 82nd minute as Alisson Becker was left bamboozled on his line.
It made for a frustrating afternoon for Jurgen Klopp’s men, despite them making it 67 games unbeaten in the league at home and finishing another year without defeat at Anfield. There was a palpable tension among the 2,000 supporters present as the hosts struggled for a second goal in what had initially looked like it would be a routine win.
This was more of an insight into Big Sam’s survival strategy than into Liverpool’s capabilities. For large spells, West Brom made no attempt to attack at all, operating without a striker for the majority of the first hour.
Allardyce’s plan was ultimately vindicated though, much to the ire of Klopp, who found himself booked for an outburst at referee Kevin Friend. The draw also came at a heavy cost, with Joel Matip appearing to suffer a recurrence of a groin injury and being replaced by Rhys Williams.
Here are i‘s Liverpool player ratings from an ostensibly one-sided afternoon at Anfield in which the spoils were eventually shared.
Liverpool player ratings
Alisson Becker – 6
The Brazilian had absolutely nothing to do in the first half. When called upon for a crucial breakaway by Karlan Grant, Alisson stopped him one-on-one, but he misjudged the header for the goal.
Trent Alexander-Arnold – 6
The right-back made plenty of dangerous runs, almost forcing an own goal. Yet defensively he was caught out on more than one occasion and wasted a couple of free-kicks in decent positions.
Joel Matip – 7
West Brom sat so deep that they invited the centre-backs on and Matip took full advantage as he roamed all the way up the pitch to set up Mane’s opener. It’s a pity that his injury will now prove the bigger talking point as he joins Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez on the sidelines.
Fabinho – 7
Making his 100th appearance and filling in at centre-back once again, Fabinho looked typically assured. While he wasn’t occupied at the back, he enjoyed the opportunity to roam back into the midfield.
Andy Robertson – 8
Robertson ran the show from left-back, causing constant problems. The Scotsman will rightly have been a little frustrated that more of his crosses into the box weren’t converted.
Curtis Jones – 6
Jones was called upon again with Naby Keita failing yet another fitness test. The teenager did his best to get involved and won one free-kick in a dangerous position, but was largely quiet and was sloppy in the build-up to West Brom’s equaliser.
Jordan Henderson – 8
Henderson created several chances for the front three, even if he had a quiet afternoon in front of the defence. The skipper completed more than twice as passes in the first half as the entire West Brom team.
Georginio Wijnaldum – 5
Wijnaldum contributed little, but he did make one important intervention to stop Darnell Furlong in his tracks.
Mohamed Salah – 6
In a week when a record number of Fantasy Premier League players triple-captained the Egyptian, he had a couple of lively moments playing off Roberto Firmino but found it difficult to get himself into the game against a stubborn Baggies back line.
Roberto Firmino – 6
Firmino connected well with Salah and Mane but lacked the spark with which he lit up the 7-0 win over Crystal Palace. He was denied another 90th-minute headed winner by a fine save from Sam Johnstone.
Sadio Mane – 7
The forward produced a decent finish to put Liverpool 1-0 up, but he could have had a hat-trick by the half-hour mark. Mane put a brilliant headed chance wide and failed to connect for a couple of other chances.
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from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3hy7asV
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