[Match Day 1] West Bromwich Albion vs. Liverpool FC: A Review

West Bromwich Albion 3-0 Liverpool FC

• Zoltan Gera – 43’
• Peter Odemwingie – 64’ (PEN)
• Romelu Lukaku – 73’

Well, one thing is for sure, as long as West Brom keeps on hiring ex-Liverpool managers, they will win the game at The Hawthorns for sure. Last time this happened was when Roy Hodgson was sacked from Liverpool and joined the Baggies. The next time the two clubs met after that in April 2011, the team from West Midlands ended up winners by 2-1. This time it was the turn of Steve Clarke to emulate Roy Hodgson and do it emphatically.

Brendan Rodgers, on his debut as Liverpool manager gave starts to two debutants for Liverpool, Fabio Borini and Joe Allen. The pre-match news confirmed that Glen Johnson will start at left-back position as Jose Enrique was out of the fixture with a slight knock, while Steven Gerrard captained Liverpool for the 250th time in the English Premier League. Rodgers also had to give a 702nd appearance to Jamie Carragher in place of Stewart Downing after Daniel Agger was given a straight red for pulling down Shane Long inside the box. Rodgers second substitution, Joe Cole, had to be taken off in the 78’ after he pulled his hamstring, yet again, to the agony of Kopites.

Liverpool was better of the two teams till a sensational strike from Zoltan Gera in the 43’ gave West Brom the lead and also upper hand on Liverpool. In the 57’, Daniel Agger brought down Shane Long inside the box and the reds were reduced to 10-men. Shane Long himself took the resultant penalty, but it was too weak that Pepe Reina had no worries in holding onto the ball. But, in the 64’, West Brom was awarded a second penalty, when Skrtel unintentionally fouled Shane Long, again, inside the box. This time Odemwingie didn’t allow Long to take the penalty and he converted the penalty with ease. With Liverpool already down to 10-men, there was no difficulty for Romelu Lukaku to head home the third goal for the Baggies in the 73’ after Liam Ridgewell crossed a lovely ball to the far post where the ex-Chelsea marksman was waiting.

PLAYER RATINGS

Pepe Reina: Couldn’t do anything once Liverpool were down to 10-men. Good

Martin Kelly: If this is the kind of performance that he is capable of, better sell him off. Poor

Daniel Agger: Was taunted all the time by Shane Long. Finally got himself a red card by bringing down Long in the box. Awful. Flop of the Match

Martin Skrtel: Unfortunate to give away the second penalty. Ok

Glen Johnson: Made quite a few runs on the left flank and linked up with Suarez and Gerrard quite often. Good

Lucas Leiva (69’ i): Tried to do something, but once Liverpool were down to 10-men, there was nothing to do. Average

Steven Gerrard: With the kind of things expected from the red skipper, the display he brought about on the pitch was nowhere close. Very Poor

Joe Allen: Debutant was the better of all the other players on the pitch. Good. Man of the Match

Stewart Downing (60’ i): Made runs on the right flank, but there wasn’t much of a good link up play from Downing. Poor

Fabio Borini: Linked up with Suarez nicely, but still, has a lot to improve. Average

Luis Suarez: Was very good in the first half going past the Baggies defence with his tricks, but the finishing, as was last season, just not there. Got umpteen chances and converted none. Poor

Subs

Jamie Carragher (60’ h): The veteran defender’s pace was wanting as Lukaku and co, easily beat him for pace. Ok

Joe Cole (69’ h) (78’ i): Got injured again. Reality check needed. Ok

Andy Carroll (78’ h): Didn’t have much to do. Average

Verdict: Too early to say anything on the squad or the newly instilled philosophy. It takes time for these things to sink in and the team to utilize it. They just didn’t play together as a team today.

Points:

• Agger will miss upcoming three fixtures, Manchester City (Home), Arsenal (Home) and Sunderland (Away). Will he be sold?
• Is Carragher still good enough to guard the defence in the absence of Agger?
• Why does Suarez keep on missing these many chances?
• Why doesn’t Liverpool buy a striker who stands right in front of the keeper to just kick the ball into the net?
• What will be Brendan Rodgers stratergy against Manchester City, if even a West Brom can defeat Liverpool by three goals?
• What is next for Joe Cole?

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