Liverpool will look to wrap up their Premier League season in style as they make their way to The Hawthorns to face Tony Pulis’ West Ham side. Jurgen Klopp will want his side to see through the game professionally as the starting eleven may see a whole raft of changes with the Europa League final set to take place on Wednesday in Basel.
Team News
West Bromwich Albion
West Brom will be without Chris Brunt, James Morrison and Alex Pritchard but will be expected to field a more or less full-strength side otherwise. Tony Pulis will look forward to ending an average season on a high note. Salomon Rondon is set to lead the line.
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Liverpool
Liverpool is set to ring in the changes with the likes of Daniel Sturridge and Roberto Firmino might be rested. In fact, Jurgen Klopp may make as many as 11 changes to the side that faced Chelsea midweek and start the likes of Jordon Ibe, Sheyi Ojo, Adam Bogdan and Cameron Branagan to rest his team for the final.
Danny Ings and Jordan Henderson may be given some game time on the night.
Probable Lineups
West Bromwich Albion (4-2-3-1): Foster; Dawson, McAuley, Olsson, Evans; Fletcher, Yacob; Gardner, McClean, Leko; Rondon
Liverpool(4-2-3-1): Bogdan; Randall, Skrtel, Lucas, Smith; Stewart, Brannagan; Ibe, Canos, Ojo; Benteke
Form
Liverpool
Liverpool come into this game following a last-gasp equalizer which set up a draw against Chelsea in midweek. Wins against Watford and Villarreal preceded that result. Before the wins, Liverpool had lost back to back games against Swansea and Villarreal.
Last 5 Matches: L-L-W-W-D (Last Match: Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea)
West Bromwich Albion
West Brom are in a bit of a free-fall with Tony Pulis’ side not having even won one of their last five games in all competitions. Their last game was a draw against Bournemouth preceded by a loss to West Ham and a draw against Tottenham before two back to back losses against Arsenal and Watford.
Last 5 Matches: L-L-D-L-D ( Last match: Bournemouth 1-1 West Brom)
What the Managers have to say
Liverpool
Jurgen Klopp is confident of his heavily rotated side being good enough for this game and that Liverpool will take this game very seriously:
”We'll try to find a line-up to win at West Brom. At this moment it's the most important thing in the world. It’s very important because we can still move up two positions in the table,"
West Bromwich AlbionTony Pulis, on the other hand, has had to face criticism about the recent form and league position of West Bromwich Albion. To which he had this to say:
"I'm absolutely delighted with the way we've done it this season because we're still in the Premier League. Anybody who dispels that as not being an achievement at clubs like West Bromwich Albion, they're in cloud cuckoo land and I really mean that.
"You look at Newcastle, you look at Aston Villa and Norwich, and you look at the traditions of those clubs."
Key Battles:
Sergi Canos vs Gareth McAuley
The battle between Sergi Canos and Gareth McAuley will be an interesting one. The latter has had his moments in the Premier League when he has kept the best of forwards quiet. He has otherwise been a regular in the lineup as he puts in solid performances one after the other to keep it consistent at the back.
McAuley could be a player who would be welcomed in the back line of many Premier League teams, such is his general nous. Sergi Canos though will look to impress Jurgen Klopp as to his ability to cut it in the Premier League with what will essentially be his Liverpool debut.
The Spanish forward has spent this season on loan at Brentford where he has developed a cult following after some success this campaign. The forward also bagged Brentford’s goal of the season award with an outrageous effort and may well look to announce himself at Liverpool with something as spectacular on the night.
Martin Skrtel vs Salomon Rondon
Martin Skrtel had a reasonable run out against the likes of Troy Deeney and Odion Ighalo earlier last week. He wasn’t really very solid but he was decent and kept things quiet at the back alongside converted center back Lucas.
This time, Skrtel is up against Salomon Rondon, a man who leads West Brom’s scoring list with 8 goals to his name. The forward has been a forlorn figure on many occasions for this West Brom side since joining in but offers a threat which is focal to any Tony Pulis side.
The forward has decent pace and power to his excellent finishing prowess and was indeed being scrutinized by Liverpool themselves as a possible target in the previous summer should Christian Benteke end up staying back at Aston Villa. This battle will make for interesting viewing with context or without.
Prediction
Liverpool fielding their B-team again would be welcomed by Tony Pulis’ side who could look to outmuscle a relatively young Liverpool side. However, you feel the quality that Liverpool possess and the Baggies’ poor form would result in another draw.
West Brom 1-1 Liverpool
