Well Liverpool fans what can we say following the defeat up at Newcastle and a game in Switzerland that neither side could be bother winning we now face the prospect of going up against Tony Pulis’s West Bromwich Albion at Anfield.
One thing we can be 100% certain of is that the Baggies will be coming up to Merseyside hoping to steal a point and who knows if they really get lucky all three making a goal fast the last thing anyone is expecting to see.
Now on to Jürgen Klopp’s team selection for what will undoubtedly be a physical affair against a team that lacks the technical ability of say Philippe Coutinho or his Brazilian teammate Roberto Firmino.
Goalkeeper
Now realising that he has the backing of new boss Klopp, and the safety of knowing the German manager is not looking to replace him after suggesting a new contract is on the cards, Simon Mignolet can relax and prepare to handle the set-piece crosses that pose the Baggies main hope of scoring from, while he should have what we expect to be an uneventful afternoon for the Liverpool keeper.
Defence
Missing for the match against Sion Alberto Moreno and Martin Skrtel will resume their places in the back four along with Nathaniel Clyne and Dejan Lovren even though we did consider the possibility of leaving Brad Smith in the team due to the fact he is a better crosser of the ball than the Spaniard Moreno.
Midfield
Lucas Leiva will be recalled to the squad to partner Can and Milner, while Captain Jordan Henderson is given more time to recover from his foot injury despite having played on Thursday night. Philippe Coutinho is now fully recovered from his hamstring sprain and will be called upon to produce the magic that has been missing from Liverpool’s last two performances along with Adam Lallana, a player who has shown he can live up to the work rate demanded by Klopp in the Germans high-pressing game. This of course means Roberto Firmino will be staring on the bench.
Attack
Christian Benteke will be needed against a very Physical West Brom, where his height and brawn is a positive for the Reds, yet in the team we envision Jürgen Klopp building we still find it hard to see where the Belgium international would fit in, other than being used as an impact substitute. Still he will get the opportunity this afternoon to show why he needs to be Liverpool’s starting striker and live up to the £32 million former manager Brendan Rodgers paid Aston Villa in order to bring him to Anfield.
