Author Topic: Liverpool 2-2 WBA (Henderson 22', Origi 90+5', Dawson 30', Olsson 73') - FT (Read 10632 times)

JerseyKloppite · « **on:** December 13, 2015, 03:51:26 pm »

Liverpool v West Bromwich Albion
December 13, 2015. Kick off: 4pm

Preview

Not exactly a fixture full of any history or romance. Our home record against them is pretty decent - since their return to regular PL football we've played them 9 times and won 8 of those, the sole exception being a 0-1 defeat under Kenny where we hit the wood work repeatedly and they nabbed a late goal under Roy Hodgepodge. Was WBA's first win at Anfield since 1967 so needless to say it was a shock.

Liverpool are enjoying a renaissance under Jurgen Klopp that hit a bit of a wall at St. James' Park last week - indeed it seems like just when we start to pick up form, we have a shocker (home v Palace also springs to mind). Sturridge's 14th injury of the season is another blow to the reds but we were all heartened to see Coutinho and Henderson get some minutes against Sion, and both start today. The game comes too soon for the likes of Sakho and Flanagan, whilst Ibe recovers from illness to make the benchl.

West Brom feature Rickie Lambert, whose introduction game the Baggies a big boost last week as they grabbed a point off Spurs. Afted a sluggish start West Brom have picked up some points in recent games including an impressive win against Arsenal, but that's the only 3 points in their last 5 games which included defeats against Man Utd and Leicester.

Line Ups:

Liverpool
22 Mignolet
02 Clyne
37 Skrtel
06 Lovren
18 Moreno
14 Henderson
23 Can
07 Milner
20 Lallana
09 Benteke
10 Coutinho

Substitutes
04 K Touré
11 Firmino
21 Lucas
24 Allen
27 Origi
33 Ibe
34 Bogdan

West Bromwich Albion
13 Myhill
25 Dawson
23 McAuley
03 Olsson
11 Brunt
06 Evans
08 Gardner
24 Fletcher
07 Morrison
14 McClean
33 Rondón

Substitutes
04 Chester
10 Anichebe
17 Lambert
18 Berahino
19 McManaman
21 Lindegaard
31 Gnabry

Commentary: Today's match will be brought to you by me, thegoodkingwencesfella and lfsea

JerseyKloppite · « **Reply #1 on:** December 13, 2015, 04:01:20 pm »

0 - WBA kick off.

JerseyKloppite · « **Reply #2 on:** December 13, 2015, 04:02:27 pm »

1 - West Brom play it into the box, Lovren deals with a difficult bounce and heads back to Mignolet.

At the other end, Milner tries to roll a probing pass out to the right but it's cut out.

JerseyKloppite · « **Reply #3 on:** December 13, 2015, 04:03:19 pm »

2 - Tony Pulis is already screaming at his players and chewing his gum furiously.

Dawson flicks on a long free kick into our box and Lovren puts it into touch.

thegoodfella · « **Reply #4 on:** December 13, 2015, 04:04:08 pm »

Quote from: KnittedJerseyKloppite on December 13, 2015, 03:51:26 pm

Commentary: Today's match will be brought to you by me. If anyone else pops up to help please send your PMs to them, I'll struggle to cover the match and check my inbox

Not to worry mate, you got me here with you, I will take over on the 23rd minute.

JerseyKloppite · « **Reply #5 on:** December 13, 2015, 04:04:49 pm »

3 - Good pressing by our defence and Dawson coughs the ball up for an LFC throw.

Teams still getting into their rhythms. We look to be trying to play the ball pretty directly. Ball down our left for Rondo, good strength but we clear.

JerseyKloppite · « **Reply #6 on:** December 13, 2015, 04:05:35 pm »

4 - Lovely pass by Can, Clyne with his first surge down the right. Hendo tries to get a quick ball towards Benteke but it's blocked and eventually WBA mop it up.

JerseyKloppite · « **Reply #7 on:** December 13, 2015, 04:06:32 pm »

5 - Good defensive head by Lovren to clear our lines as WBA look long again.

Mignolet then put under some pressure when he's passed the ball but he calmly clears.

JerseyKloppite · « **Reply #8 on:** December 13, 2015, 04:07:09 pm »

6 - Promising moment as Coutinho and Lallana link up but it comes to nothing.

Again Lovren steps up to intercept the quick ball towards Rondon.

JerseyKloppite · « **Reply #9 on:** December 13, 2015, 04:07:52 pm »

7 - Lovren getting most of my early attention He loses the ball in our half but puts in a superb recovery tackle to win it back.

JerseyKloppite · « **Reply #10 on:** December 13, 2015, 04:09:51 pm »

9 - We play the ball around the WBA box, Hendo and Coutinho particularly involved. Long cross towards Benteke and the back post but he can't reach it and eventually the Baggies get a throw.

JerseyKloppite · « **Reply #11 on:** December 13, 2015, 04:10:58 pm »

10 - Great defending McAuley! Benteke's shot from the edge of the box blocked, we recycle to Clyne who fires the ball low across the goal. Benteke would probably have finished at the back post but the WBA defender is aware and stabs out for a corner.

JerseyKloppite · « **Reply #12 on:** December 13, 2015, 04:11:43 pm »

10 - Corner easily cleared, we get the ball back into the box and Can uses his strength to create a half-chance but he's shooting on the turn from a difficult angle and doesn't get a good connection, easy low save.

JerseyKloppite · « **Reply #13 on:** December 13, 2015, 04:12:42 pm »

12 - Good early pressure! Plenty of LFC possession, Coutinho twists and turns and tries to make space but Evans gets a foot it.

Clyne crosses, Milner takes an excellent touch to control, tries to pull back across goal but Gardner clears with Benteke about to pull the trigger.

JerseyKloppite · « **Reply #14 on:** December 13, 2015, 04:14:00 pm »

13 - We're playing well at the moment, WBA sitting back as we play it around in midfield....

And what a chance! Oh little Phil.

Can plays it into the box, a stooping header goes straight to Coutinho 15 yards out and he lashes it at goal, over the bar.

Should have hit the target... should he have scored? Possibly.

JerseyKloppite · « **Reply #15 on:** December 13, 2015, 04:14:48 pm »

15 - Good feet by Milner again, and a great switch of play by Moreno to Clyne.

Deep cross by Henderson aiming at Milner at the back post. Looks to have come off Dawson but GK given.

JerseyKloppite · « **Reply #16 on:** December 13, 2015, 04:16:13 pm »

16 - Baggies really haven't had a sniff yet.

Lallana and Benteke almost combine but the ball is again punted away from goal. West Brom making crucial interventions to prevent us getting clear cut chances so far.

Lfsea · « **Reply #17 on:** December 13, 2015, 04:16:55 pm »

This really is night and day compared to the games versus Sion and Newcastle. There's real purpose to the play and it's great to see Henderson back and playing with a bit of pizzazz. Consequently, the ball has hardly been in our half for the last 10 minutes.

West Brom look absolutely terrified at the moment, and rightly so.

JerseyKloppite · « **Reply #18 on:** December 13, 2015, 04:17:33 pm »

17 - Liverpool pass patiently before Henderson tries another cross, cleared.

Can out left to Moreno, stood up towards Benteke whose under all sorts of pressure from Olsson. He gets his head to it but can only flick it on. Milner arriving but it's over his head.

JerseyKloppite · « **Reply #19 on:** December 13, 2015, 04:18:27 pm »

18 - The only concern so far is that Benteke is being mobbed in the box.

High boot given against Can and a chance for WBA to put the ball in our penalty box.

JerseyKloppite · « **Reply #20 on:** December 13, 2015, 04:19:39 pm »

19 - Decent ball, Benteke back to head out.

Brilliant backheel by a WBA player down our left and Mignolet makes a save!

Cross deflected by Lovren towards our goal and our Belgian keeper is alert to push away.

JerseyKloppite · « **Reply #21 on:** December 13, 2015, 04:20:21 pm »

20 - Corner punched away by Mignolet and for now it's West Brom pressing.

Superb cross by McClean, Gardner dives but can't get on the end of it!

Lfsea · « **Reply #22 on:** December 13, 2015, 04:21:07 pm »

That was West Brow's first sustained period of pressure and they almost made it pay.

And as I type... HENNNDDOOOOOOOOO

JerseyKloppite · « **Reply #23 on:** December 13, 2015, 04:22:06 pm »

21 - GOAL! (Henderson)

Superb! Coutino plays a great ball to the back post, Lallana flicks it down across goal. Henderson makes a wonderful run into the middle, timed to perfection to stay onside, and he sweeps it under the keeper.

LFC 1 - 0 WBA

JerseyKloppite · « **Reply #24 on:** December 13, 2015, 04:23:06 pm »

22 - Deserved based on our first 20 mins, I think. WBA can't have any complaints.

We're on the ball again, high tempo and high work rate. Great to see.

Lfsea · « **Reply #25 on:** December 13, 2015, 04:23:29 pm »

This was a goal borne out of WBA not taking their (slim) opportunity a couple of minutes earlier. Great interplay from Benteke to Coutinho, a flick on by Lallana and the ball was finally swept home by captain fantastic.

thegoodfella · « **Reply #26 on:** December 13, 2015, 04:23:36 pm »

And I will take over here now.

23' We are having a good spell here, the spirits are up and so is the passing, the visitors sitting in their own half defending and trying to close space.

JerseyKloppite · « **Reply #27 on:** December 13, 2015, 04:24:18 pm »

Quote from: Tinsely Camarismassy on December 13, 2015, 04:13:26 pm

Can in his black boots looks fucking majestic out there!

Hard to disagree, we look a lot more comfortable in the middle of the park than last week when Can was out. Though Hendo's presence is obviously a bonus. For me the two are our best CM partnership.

The commentator in my stream just referred to a pass as a "diag". I feel a bit sick.

thegoodfella · « **Reply #28 on:** December 13, 2015, 04:24:21 pm »

24' More passing around between the defenders and Can, moving it forward, tackled, out for a throw in for us.

thegoodfella · « **Reply #29 on:** December 13, 2015, 04:25:37 pm »

25' Can wins a header, poor pass though by Coutinho and the visitors will bring it forward. Poor pass though, and now we are back up front. Shot deflected and WBA are on it.

JerseyKloppite · « **Reply #30 on:** December 13, 2015, 04:26:16 pm »

Quote from: Rush 82 on December 13, 2015, 04:22:18 pm

Yes! Just before that goal was thinking that we look totally different with Couts in the team

Coutinho has made a big difference too. Looks so comfortable on the ball, always able to turn and make some space, and as ever an eye for a clever pass. Good ball in for the goal too.

thegoodfella · « **Reply #31 on:** December 13, 2015, 04:26:52 pm »

27' Lovren with a ball forward, Milner shields the ball, Countiho tries a pass but it doesn't find the target, thwarted again.

JerseyKloppite · « **Reply #32 on:** December 13, 2015, 04:27:09 pm »

More good defending from Lovren.

I think he, along with Ibe, has looked most improved under Klopp.

thegoodfella · « **Reply #33 on:** December 13, 2015, 04:28:04 pm »

28' Coutinho is on it, Benteke making a run behind the defenders, the Brazilian brings it on his right and takes aim of the top corner, straight at the keeper.

JerseyKloppite · « **Reply #34 on:** December 13, 2015, 04:29:14 pm »

Quote from: JimmysHammer on December 13, 2015, 04:28:04 pm

The period of possession before the goal was quality.

Perfect demonstration of the difference between probing possession (using the ball to drag WBA out of position and possession just for the sake of it.

Had the same thought. Is Coutinho the difference? We're moving the ball around very well; Can, Milner, Coutinho, Lallana and Henderson all looking comfortable, a lovely pass and move.

thegoodfella · « **Reply #35 on:** December 13, 2015, 04:29:22 pm »

29' There are chances here for the visitors, Clyne couldn't stop the move from his side, cut back in, and that was close.

Lfsea · « **Reply #36 on:** December 13, 2015, 04:29:42 pm »

Quote from: KnittedJerseyKloppite on December 13, 2015, 04:27:09 pm

More good defending from Lovren.

I think he, along with Ibe, has looked most improved under Klopp.

In Can too, I feel. A lot of the whistful, Playstation football he was trying to play before has gone and been - to a point - replaced by better decision making and a degree of positive simplicity.

thegoodfella · « **Reply #37 on:** December 13, 2015, 04:30:55 pm »

30' Corner for WBA, Mignolet comes for it, misses everything, Rondon is there, but Dawson is there on the right spot, hits it in the goal. Soft, very soft.

1-1

thegoodfella · « **Reply #38 on:** December 13, 2015, 04:31:21 pm »

1-1, the lead didn't last too long.

JerseyKloppite · « **Reply #39 on:** December 13, 2015, 04:32:03 pm »

Really poor that, Mignolet has been better of late but he must take the blame for that. Comes out and gets nothing on it, Rondo keeps it alive and Dawson fires home.

We've controlled the game other than two v short spells of pressure, and one of them has cost us a goal.