Topic: FT: WBA 0 - Liverpool 1 (Firmino 45+1')

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The Hawthorns

Liverpool: Mignolet, Clyne, Lovren, Matip, Lucas, Milner, Can, Wijnaldum, Coutinho, Firmino, Origi
Subs: Karius, Moreno, Grujic, Sturridge, Alexander-Arnold, Woodburn, Gomez


West Brom: Foster, Dawson, McAuley, Evans, Brunt, Fletcher, Yacob, Livermore; Phillips, Chadli; Robson-Kanu
Subs: Myhill, M.Wilson, Nyom, Morrison, McClean, Rondon, Field.

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0' - Minute of silence for two fans who were killed in a house robbery and attack. Mum and young lad.

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0' - Reds kick off. Ball passed back and launched well forward. Interesting.

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1' - Ugh - sloppy - Lucas kicks the ball out gifting WBA a throw-in from what was our throw-in. Half chance in the box goes wide.

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2' - Away fans are seated at Mignolet's end. They'll be hoping they don't see much of the ball in the first half.

WBA making no bones about what they're about - Can feels the effect of a tough challenge.

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4' - Origi with good work down - holds the ball and works it upfield. Works it towards Coutinho in the centre and the ball is worked around for a bit.

WBA quite happy for us to have the ball.

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6' - Dawson hits the ball with his hand in the middle of the field - officials don't flag it.

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9' - 72% possession to the Reds..

Can with a speculative pass into space in the WBA box but it's cleared by a white shirt - just too much on it for Phil to get to

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break in comms is due to me losing my satellite signal

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Let's grab an early goal Reds, settle any nerves, then play our own game. 

Can someone explain what Dawson wasn't booked there?

Wide to wide movement crucial to unplug middle of the pitch here... just waiting for the weak turnover and counter, though

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Bobby really unlucky there. Playing better and their defence needs testing its not perfect.

19' - WBA looking solid

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21' - Can whips a long range curler to the far post but it has too much on it and Foster collects.

Moss has a word with Lucas after a sliding tackle

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22' - WBA with another dangerous moment as the ball is lofted into the box - on replay that looks like a terrible miss.

Up the other end Firmino send one across that Phil pulls wide of the post.

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25' - WBA corner...

Bloody hell - can see why they've scored 14 goals off corners this season - looked like Mignolet got a touch on that the ball is cleared.

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Legal hard tackles being discouraged by Jonathan Moss... Such a panty waste, this Moss

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28' - Matip demonstrates his ball playing skills as he sashays into the box catching everyone by surprise. WBA remain firmly in formation though and our buzzing around in the box comes to nothing.

Milner appears to be limping a bit.

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Can's form is so much better.... He's about to boss the game --- pleased for the lad

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33' - Origi being bullied off the ball a fair amount. Phil with a trademark attempt for the top corner but its too high.

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35' - WBA with weak attempt on target - Robson-Kanu split the two defenders but couldn't get any power on it and Mignolet collects easily.

At the other end Can with a high foot in the box - he also appears to have pulled up.

Clyne is such a timid fullback in the attacking sense.

Really poor that the commentary team, which includes an ex player, aren't aware that a pass back to the keeper off your knee is allowed.

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37' - The WBA bus is firmly parked.

It's definitely a case of "come if  you dare, we'll be here the whole day"

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39' - ha ha - Robson Kanu pulls Lucas down and then is surprised when the kick goes the Liverpool way.

Lucky not to get a Yellow for the cynicism involved.

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41' - Not expecting much additional time - there haven't been many stoppages.

Stat: Origi has only touched the ball 14 times...the least of anyone in a red shirt

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Loved the way Bobby bullied and got the ball back there. We need to get our shooting boots on though.

It's frustrating watching Origi like this - he's stronger, faster, more intelligent and hugely more talented than these defenders - he's not even much smaller either - but he just doesn't quite believe it. That hustle Firmino managed, for example - if Origi had that tenacity/bullying mentality, he'd destroy this defence.

Yeah, this is the Origi we don't like seeing.

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Other observations

Origi's pace seems to have an extra gear
Lovren ball watching a bit - not good
Not enough flank play (1 v 1) to expose -- we could get a pen here if we are smart (maybe Sturridge can in second half)

Lucas gets pushed to the ground and still the ref won't book the WBA player.

44' - Milner with FK that goes in too flat and low.

Minute later Brunt earns a yellow for a shirt pull

This time Milner with a beauty which Lucas flicks on for Bobby to bury

45' - Gooooalllllll

WBA 0 - Liverpool 1


The irony is delicious - Liverpool score a set piece goal against the set piece specialists

45' + 1 - HT

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45' - Playing towards the traveling Kop now - let's give them lot's to cheers about 

Liverpool are late out the tunnel - Traveling Kop fire up the chant.

It's started raining gently.

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45' - All sorts of tusssling in the corner and Matip concedes a FK - he's also the one to clear. 

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47' - Fouls and FK's coming aplenty from both sides. First WBA committed one to stop a Liverpool break, then Lucas returned the favour. Both FK's came to nothing.

Can is trod on by Robson-Kanu who  earns himself a yellow.

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49' - Bobby in a rare bit of space moves the ball to Phil who dribbles around his man but falls over (in the box) - ref waves play on.

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51' - despite the yellows already given, WBA are still getting away with a fair percentage of fouls.

Evans brings Origi down and its a FK in the middle of the field. Taken short and lofted towards Phil.

We lose the ball and WBA break dangerously but in a decidedly offside manner.

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WBA are a bunch of thugs standing on people's feet pushing and shoving.

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53' - Reds choosing to keep the ball amongst the back three - doesn't last long enough and WBA eventually gain possession - which we pinch back.

Phil and Bob move the ball forward - Clyne back to Firmino who gets it to Origi with a nice bit of skill. Origi decides to try for a shot but fires well wide - poor decision from him there - there were red shirts available.

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56' - Ooooh - so well worked and Milner misses a sitter - Firmino put that ball onto his onrushing foot but he can't keep it down into the net.

That should have been 2-0 from Milner there great move.

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57' - Liverpool with two distinctly dangerous forays in the last 2 minutes. Reds earn a corner which goes to the back and evades everyone.

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59' - Bobby sliced through the midfield getting the ball to Gini - the ball is passed on neatly but there's no way through.

Minute later the ball is in the net but Bobby had already been flagged offside (just about - good call but tight) - that was a good move nonetheless

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61' - WBA long throw is short and easily cleared. McCauley has to leg it back again.

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62' - Game is rather more open now. Phil with a booming driver over cover point ....oo err that's cricket - don't matter - it applies.

WBA make two subs

Rondon on
McClean on

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65' - Evans earns a Yellow for shoving Phil over - pointless foul.

FK outside the box.

WBA break sharply but comes to nothing.

Weirdly Origi is punished after he's shirt had been pulled in the first instance.

Strange officiating.

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Pulis and his subs. You can tell what his tactics will be bringing on all these big men. 

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70' - Matip with a cross field pass to Phil's feet - pinpoint stuff

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71' Crowd howl for a card and Lucas gets one after tripping someone. We break from the FK and clearly hear someone saying "keep it, keep it".

Ball is worked around and ends up in Foster's hands.