Liverpool 2 West Brom 1: Jurgen Klopp’s side blow chance to top Premier League table despite goals from Sadio Mane and Philippe Coutinho
Tony Pulis' Baggies were no match for the Premier League pace setters at Anfield
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LIVERPOOL blew their chance to go top of the Premier League table, despite swatting aside West Brom, by conceding a late goal.
First-half strikes from Sadio Mane and Philippe Coutinho earned Jurgen Klopp’s side three points. But Gareth McAuley's late volley left Arsenal at the top on goal difference.
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The Kop side took the lead on 20 minutes when Mane volleyed home from a Roberto Firminho cross for his fourth goal of the season. The highlight of the move, however, was Coutinho’s brilliant dummy that freed Emre Can in the build-up.
And the Brazilian playmaker produced another moment of magic to double his side’s lead with 10 minutes of the first half remaining.
Mane provided the ammo before Coutinho slipped past Baggies defender Craig Dawson and slotted the ball past Ben Foster.
And it could have been an even heavier defeat for Tony Pulis’ side if Foster hadn’t pulled off a brilliant save to stop a Dejan Lovren header around the hour mark.
And Jonas Olsson blocked a goal-bound strike after the high-pressing home side had sliced through the visitors with ease.
The Baggies did manage to finally notch with just a few minutes remaining when Liverpool typically failed at defending a corner, allowing Gareth McAuley to volley in.
FACTS, STATS, GOALS & LOLS
- The Kop were in good voice even before kick off – they gave a huge cheer after learning of Burnley’s last-gasp winner against Everton.
- Baggies fans shouted: “Wot, no Saido?’ after it was confirmed overweight striker Berahino was not even on the West Brom bench.
- Liverpool placed a bright yellow sign on the pitch during the warm-up, warning “Beware Flying Footballs”. Probably inspired by their awful shooting in the 0-0 draw with Manchester United.
- Liverpool co-owner John W Henry was in the stand for this game – he chose the right one rather than flying in for the United snore draw.
- A more familiar face was that of Michael Owen, who was on pitchside duty for BT Sport – 14 years to the day after he scored a hat-trick in a 3-1 Champions League win over Spartak Moscow. Remember when Liverpool were in Europe?
- Jurgen Klopp claimed in his programme notes West Brom would be “a different test to Manchester United, but just as difficult”
- The Liverpool boss was probably recalling last season’s Anfield clash, when his team rained 28 shots on the Baggies goal – but needed a late equaliser from Divock Origi to salvage a 2-2 draw.
- West Brom fans had everyone else scratching their heads to explain why they kept booing James Milner. It was probably because he spent two seasons with Midlands rivals Aston Villa.
- Liverpool have never failed to score twice in a row in the Premier League under Klopp – and Mane’s 21st minute strike ensured that run would continue.
- Liverpool’s second goal put them on course to go top of the league – but Coutinho’s cringe-worthy dance celebration would have been bottom of the pile on the ‘Strictly’ scorecards.
And McAuley's late goal denied the Reds top spot anyway.
7Gareth McAuley fired home a late volleyCredit: Reuters
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Liverpool
25 Oct - Tottenham (H) EFL Cup
29 Oct - Crystal Palace (A) - PL
6 Nov - Watford (H) - PL
19 Nov - Southampton (A) - PL
26 Nov - Sunderland (H) - PL
West Brom
29 Oct - Man City (H) PL
6 Nov - Leicester (A) PL
21 Nov - Burnley (H) PL
26 Nov - Hull (A) PL
3 Dec - Watford (H) PL
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Dream Team ratings:
LIVERPOOL: Karius 6, Clyne 6, Matip 7, Lovren 7, Milner 6, Lallana 6, Henderson 7, Can 7, Mane 7, Coutinho 8, Firmino 7
Subs: Wijnaldum 6, Lucas 5, Origi 5
Booked: Henderson.
WEST BROM: Foster 7, Olsson 6, McAuley 8, Dawson 6, Nyom 7, Phillips 5, McClean 5, Fletcher 6, Chadli 6, Yacob 6, Rondon 6,
Subs: Brunt 6, Morrison 6, Robson-Kanu 7
Booked: Yacob, McClean, Morrison.
STAR MAN – COUTINHO
What they said:
Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson said: "We were disappointed conceding from a set piece as we had worked on that.
“We had handled it well until the goal. From that point on, they lumped the ball forward to put pressure on us, we coped with it well to see the game out.
"First half we were very good with the ball, it got a bit nervy after their goal.
“We need to build on that and stop the goal from the set piece. It is too early for that talk (about the title race) we have to concentrate on each game, it is a bonus teams around us dropped points but the main aim for us is to get three points."
West Brom defender Gareth McAuley said: "We expected a difficult game, that is what we got.
"We gave them the two goals, they were preventable and we are disappointed with that. They are a quality team but we should have been better today.
"We wanted to frustrate for a long as we could and come out and have a go, but it was too late in the game."