Liverpool will have been disappointed with only drawing 1-1 at home to Everton in the Merseyside derby on Sunday. They are drawing too many home league games but will hope to change all of that with a win over relegation-threatened West Bromwich Albion who are still without a league win since August.
Last season it was Manchester United who turned their home ground into a fortress but drew far too many games. This time around it seems to be Liverpool who are fitting into that category. They are yet to taste defeat at Anfield this season but four of the last six home Premier League games have ended in draws and that’s too many.
Jurgen Klopp surprised most pundits when leaving Philippe Coutinho on the bench and taking Mohamed Salah off when the scores were level. But for a slightly dodgy penalty in the second half, Liverpool would have beaten Everton, but it was more points dropped and although still fourth, they are only a point clear of Arsenal and two ahead of Spurs and Burnley.
The big bonus in recent weeks hasn’t just been the amount of goals they have been scoring but the improved performance of their defence. Only in the 3-3 draw at Sevilla have they conceded more than once in a game and that’s a massive step forward for the Reds and one that should be extended in this match.
A few people had just started their Christmas shopping when West Bromwich Albion last won a game in the Premier League. It was August 19 when they last tasted victory in the league and the arrival of Alan Pardew hasn’t shown much sign of that long-awaited win coming along.
It nearly did in the final game before he officially took over as they blew a 2-0 lead at home to Newcastle United. Under Pardew they’ve only managed a home draw with Crystal Palace and a 1-0 defeat at Swansea City at the weekend. They are still looking for their first goal under Pardew and have Manchester United and Arsenal to face before the end of the year.
Albion have only managed 12 league goals this season and are 17th in the table, only out of the bottom three on goal difference. Only three times this season have they scored more than one goal in a league game, take those away and they have a dismal total of six goals in 13 games. Away form has seen them score just twice in their last six away Premier League games and they desperately need a new striker or two in the January transfer window.
Conclusion
Liverpool must be winning games like this if they want that top four finish this season. They have had too many home draws already this season and that could be costly in the long-run. Jurgen Klopp is likely to make a few changes for this game due to the crowded fixture list, but he has enough in his squad to get three points. West Bromwich Albion lack confidence, struggle to keep clean sheets against good sides and you have to worry for them at present. Go for Liverpool to win this on a -1 handicap.
The Key Stats
Last Five Premier League Results – Most recent first
Liverpool – DWWDW
West Bromwich Albion – LDDDL
Head to Head – Last Five League Meetings
16/04/17- West Bromwich Albion 0 Liverpool 1
22/10/16 – Liverpool 2 West Bromwich Albion 1
15/05/16 – West Bromwich Albion 1 Liverpool 1
13/12/15 – Liverpool 2 West Bromwich Albion 2
25/04/15 – West Bromwich Albion 0 Liverpool 0
- Liverpool are unbeaten in their last eight games against West Bromwich Albion.
- Four of the last six games between these two sides have ended in draws.
- Both teams have scored in six of the last eight games between these two sides.
- Liverpool are unbeaten at home this season in the Premier League.
- Liverpool have kept seven clean sheets in their last ten home Premier League games.
- Four of the last six Liverpool home league games have ended in a draw.
- West Bromwich Albion last won a game on August 19.
- West Bromwich Albion have gone 14 Premier League games without a win.
- West Bromwich Albion have scored two goals in their last six away Premier League games.
- The last six West Bromwich Albion away Premier League games have all had under 2.5 goals scored in them.
- West Bromwich Albion have failed to score in four of their last six Premier League games.
- Nine of the last ten West Bromwich Albion goals have been scored by different players with only Rondon having scored twice.