On what looked like a routine evening’s work at Anfield, Liverpool made things hard for themselves in the last ten minutes before sealing a 2-1 success over West Brom. In truth, the Reds should have finished the game much before Gareth McAuley scored to give West Brom some hope, after Sadio Mane and Philippe Coutinho had put Liverpool in command.
However, they will take the 3 points. On that note, here’s how each player fared
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Liverpool
Loris Karius: 6/10
His distribution was tidy for most of the game, but there are still concerns over his handling of crosses. His uncertainty led to the corner that led to West Brom’s equalizer.
Nathaniel Clyne: 7/10
He was the pick of Liverpool’s back four on the night. He bombed forward for a large part of the game and put in a few teasing crosses that Liverpool’s attackers could not finish.
Joel Matip: 7/10
In general, he dealt well with Salomon Rondon, not giving the West Brom man a sniff. Liverpool’s set-piece defending is still a problem and Matip still needs some work on that aspect.
Dejan Lovren: 6/10
Like Matip, he too was steady for most of the game, when he was tested. He had a superb glancing header brilliantly saved by Ben Foster early in the second half.
James Milner: 5/10
As an attacking option, his final ball was dreadful. Defensively, he wasn’t tested by Matt Phillips but Hal Robson-Kanu gave him a tough time after he came on.
Jordan Henderson: 6/10
Liverpool’s captain could have done better. He was steady, but his passing was largely safe, which meant he mostly moved it only sideways or backward.
Emre Can: 6/10
He drove Liverpool forward from midfield and did his defensive duties reasonably well. With better finishing, he could have had a goal or two for himself.
Adam Lallana: 6/10
He carried on with his good form this season. He makes Liverpool tick, as he showed in the 30 minutes he played against United. His ability to drift in and out off tight spaces is an asset for any side.
Philippe Coutinho: 8/10
Man of the Match. Coutinho’s moment of inspiration paved the way for Liverpool’s first goal after it seemed like they were finding it difficult to break down a packed West Brom defense. Added to that, he got himself a goal with a classy finish.
Sadio Mane: 7/10
The Senegalese has undoubtedly been Jurgen Klopp’s best signing of the summer and he showed it again today. It was a beautiful first-time finish to give Liverpool the lead. Mane also set up Coutinho for Liverpool’s second.
Roberto Firmino: 7/10
On another day, Firmino could have had a hat-trick. His work-rate and movement are a nightmare for defenders, making him almost impossible to mark. His finishing was off the mark today, although some credit for that should be given to Foster and West Brom’s defenders.
Substitutes
Georginio Wijnaldum: 5/10
He came on to replace Lallana in the 77th minute. His job was mainly to ensure that Liverpool saw the game out. He curled a shot just wide of the right-hand post in the dying minutes of the game.
Lucas Leiva: N/A
He barely touched the ball after coming on in the 88th minute for Coutinho.
Divock Origi: N/A
He came on for Mane in injury time and his only contribution was to be caught offside once.
West Bromwich Albion
Ben Foster: 6/10
It was a mixed game for Foster. It was his poor clearance that gave Liverpool the opportunity to score the second goal. But in the second half, he was brilliant as he made some top-class saves, especially the one from Lovren’s header.
Craig Dawson: 5/10
Coutinho ran him ragged. He was poor as an attacking option too.
Gareth McAuley: 6/10
Somehow, he keeps on popping up with a goal. Defensively, he was troubled by Firmino’s movement but made a few excellent last-ditch interventions.
Jonas Olsson: 6/10
The Swede tried his best. He couldn’t stop both Liverpool goals which were very well worked, but like McAuley he made some important interventions. The scoreline could have been very different if not for the two centre-backs and Foster.
Allan Nyom: 5/10
He could not deal with Mane’s movement and Clyne’s intent. In truth, he didn’t get much help from James McClean either.
Claudio Yacob: 3/10
He was having a poor game and then stupidly got himself booked by making a bad tackle and having a few harsh words to say to the referee. He will not play West Brom’s next game against Manchester City and was hauled off at half-time.
Darren Fletcher: 4/10
The Scot found it hard to come to grips with Liverpool’s fluidity in midfield. It felt like he was lacking a couple of yards of pace.
Matt Phillips: 4/10
He was anonymous for the time that he was on the pitch and was substituted early in the second half for James Morrison.
James McClean: 4/10
West Brom need more from their wide players. The Irishman was a peripheral figure as he had to track back to neutralize the threat of Clyne. But even that, he did not do too well.
Nacer Chadli: 5/10
This was by far not Chadli’s best performance in a West Brom shirt. He could not get the ball to be the creative influence he can. He had a couple of chances, that he spurned by hitting the ball too high.
Salomon Rondon: 4/10
Rondon tried hard but had very little support for most of the game. West Brom kept punting it long to him, but Matip and Lovren dealt with most of it, and there was no Baggies player to get on the end of the second ball.
Substitutes
Chris Brunt: 6/10
He improved West Brom’s play in the second half. He helped them keep the ball and put some threatening crosses into the box.
James Morrison: 5/10
He gave the ball away once after coming on which led to what would have been a certain goal for Emre Can if not for Olsson. Apart from that, his ball retention was good.
Hal Robson-Kanu: 6/10
As an attacking threat, West Brom were more prominent once the Welshman came on. He used his skill to deceive Milner on more than one occasion.
