West Brom 3-0 Liverpool Match Report

West Brom 3-0 Liverpool

 

 

Much has changed during this summer at Anfield with another new manager starting a new season at Liverpool, this time the very highly rated, former Swansea manager, Brendan Rodgers.

 

 

Former Reds’ assistant manager to Kenny Dalglish, Steve Clarke moved to the Hawthorns during the summer, to welcome Liverpool for their first fixture of the season.

 

 

The Team

 

 

Summer signings Fabio Borini and Joe Allen made their competitive debuts in this first fixture as Captain Steven Gerrard skippered the side for the 250^th time in the Barclays Premier League.

 

 

Glen Johnson was switched to left-back as Jose Enrique was suffering from a knock. Martin Kelly deputised at right-back.

 

 

The Match

 

 

West Brom started the match brightly with Ridgewell going close with an effort inside the first two minutes.

 

 

Liverpool had to wait for 10 minutes to see their first chance, when Suarez skipped past Olsson and McAuley before firing a shot on target from 20 yards, which Ben Foster parried.

 

 

Moments later Suarez twisted and turned inside the box, before shooting low, which Foster saved at his near post.

 

 

The match was proving to be a good contest with both teams looking dangerous on attack.

 

 

Then on the half-hour mark Suarez missed a great chance when he headed over inside the 6 yard box after great work from Glen Johnson down the left, who provided a teasing cross.

 

 

Liverpool looked to be having the best of the chances when they fell behind just before half-time.

 

 

A West Brom corner-kick was headed clear by Martin Skrtel to the edge of the box where Gera controlled and let fly with an unstoppable volley into Reina’s top right hand corner.

 

 

Liverpool came out for the second half in positive fashion, with Suarez just missing the target from a free-kick just outside the box.

 

 

But the game turned for the worse for Liverpool in the 57^th minute when Agger was adjudged to have fouled Long as he raced through on goal. Phil Dowd added to Liverpool’s woes as he showed the Liverpool defender a red card.

 

 

West Brom’s number 9 took the penalty himself, but he was denied by a smart save from Reina as Liverpool was let off the hook.

 

 

Moments later the home side was awarded another spot-kick as Skrtel was caught in possession in his own penalty area by Long, the defender adjudged to have fouled Long as he tried to retrieve the ball.

 

 

Odemwingie took responsibility this time, and made no mistake from the spot.

 

 

Suarez should have reduced the deficit, but he missed his header from close range.

 

 

West Brom could have added to Liverpool’s misery as Morrison missed a glorious chance from close range.

 

 

But the home side did eventually add a third when Lakaku headed home a Long cross to end Liverpool’s faint hopes.

 

 

Summary

 

 

A terrible start for Brendan Rodgers in his first match in charge as Liverpool capitulated. Defensively, Skrtel and Agger were all over the place and Steven Gerrard never got into the game.

 

 

Lucas looked a bit off the pace which was not surprising, and Borini was poor.

 

 

But it is only the first game and credit to West Brom who played really well.

 

 

Suarez was his usual brilliant best, but unfortunately was also his usual wasteful self in front of goal.

 

 

New manager, but Liverpool still has the same old problem of converting chances, and Liverpool now have a tough run of fixtures coming up, with Manchester City next week, followed by Arsenal, Sunderland and then Manchester United.