Liverpool Can Take Huge Step Towards Champions League
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Having defeated Stoke City away from home last weekend in the Premier League, Liverpool can close in on a Champions League place when they travel to play West Bromwich Albion on Sunday afternoon.
This match is one of three remaining away games for Liverpool this season, all of which are winnable matches and Jurgen Klopp knows his team must keep winning these games to fend off Manchester United and Arsenal in the race for the top four.
West Brom come into this match sitting 8th in the Premier League table and have little to play for towards the end of the season. Well clear of the relegation zone but adrift of the European places, West Brom can afford to enjoy their football for the remainder of the season.
Trends show Liverpool are undefeated in their last six Premier League games and have firmly placed their poor start to 2017 behind them. Victories over Arsenal, Burnley, Everton and Stoke plus draws with Manchester City and Bournemouth have been good enough for Liverpool to maintain control of a top four place in the Premier League.
The win at Stoke last time out was massive for Liverpool because up until that game, the Reds had failed to win in five away league games and their form away from Anfield was starting to become a concern. However, second half goals from Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino were enough to seal maximum points for Liverpool at the Bet365 Stadium.
While Liverpool’s form has improved, West Brom’s has stuttered and trends show the Baggies have won only one of their last six Premier League games. West Brom have suffered four defeats and one draw during that run of games, having previously gone eight games with just one defeat. Tony Pulis will be keen to arrest their slide before the end of the season.
Trends show West Brom have failed to score a single goal in their last three Premier League games, which is a poor record. However, Pulis will highlight Liverpool’s inability to defend from set-pieces so we should see plenty of attacking threat from the home team from free-kicks, corners and throw-ins.
Liverpool are unbeaten in their last seven matches against West Brom but will need to improve defensively if they are to avoid conceding a goal in this game. West Brom are sure to throw everything at the Liverpool defence, in what could be a very direct approach from Pulis’ team and it will be interesting to see how Liverpool cope.
Klopp is sure to start both Coutinho and Firmino for this match, having left the Brazilian duo out of the starting line-up at Stoke. Sadio Mane, Adam Lallana and Jordan Henderson remain on the treatment table. West Brom have a clean bill of health and can select their strongest XI for this match.
The last three matches between these teams at the Hawthorns have ended in a draw and there is every reason to believe this match will finish the same way, with both teams scoring goals.
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