Liverpool should have little difficulty beating West Brom.
We go again! Come Sunday the Reds will host West Brom and Big Sam to Anfield. Liverpool are flying high at top of table and should have little difficulty here.
West Brom is languishing at the bottom and has the most porous defense in the league – having shipped more goals than any other side thus far this campaign.
Liverpool take an amazing whopping run of 66 unbeaten matches at home into this tie and should…I say should see this through to 67. Jurgen Klopp will not be underestimating Allardyce and his beleaguered Baggies, and will be pressing the lads to continue in the fine run of form they have displayed in their past two matches.
For the first time all season, the Reds are healthy in the midfield with the return of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and the return to full training of James Milner and Thiago. This gives the gaffer a very enviable position of putting out his best attacking and defending midfield combination we will have seen all campaign.
The defensive backline has been particularly phenomenal and should continue in that vein for the final fixtures of 2020. Fabinho has been stellar and Joel Matip is currently healthy and ready to go. Youngster Rhys Williams has been a refreshing bright spot when enlisted to provide cover at the injury-ravaged backline. Nat Phillips has also had quality minutes when he has been called on to fill a hole at centre-back.
Andrew Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold have continued to shine and provide dangerous balls into the box, with assists and peachy crosses to the forward line. Robbo’s cross to Firmino for their third goal at Selhurst Park the weekend last was quite beautiful to see, to mention just one here.
More from Rush The Kop
- Set to return, Virgil Van Dijk facing heavy criticism back home
- Liverpool making late comebacks all the rage once again
- Wolves tilt gives Klopp opportunity to tinker with lineup following international duty
- Players to watch in the matchup with Wolves
- Predicting Liverpool’s Next Five Premier League Fixtures
The front line have been playing well and all were on the scoresheet at Palace with Bobby and Mo netting braces, and Sadio netting another. Look for them to be attacking the Baggies area relentlessly in the first 20 minutes to get the advantage of a goal or two up by halftime.
Make no mistake, this could be another route in the making as Jurgen’s juggernaut rolls out with purpose and intensity to put a fine flourishing cap on the most successful year of Liverpool football in decades.
Klopp’s teamsheet for West Brom shakes out like this; Allison Becker between the posts, where he has had very little to do in the way of saves of late and I do not expect the Baggies to put a great deal of pressure on him in this one.
Andrew Robertson, Joel Matip, Fabinho, and TAA fill out the backline. I expect Rhys Williams to see some second-half minutes particularly if the Reds have a substantial lead at the 60th minute; subbing off Matip.
The midfield should line up with the skipper Jordan Henderson in the no. 6 where he has played well in providing cover since Fabs has been drafted into the center back spot since VVD went down injured at Everton. From here we could see a combination of different choices with Gini Wijnaldum and Naby Keita or Keita and Ox playing in the middle of the park.
Curtis Jones is having a brilliant autumn for the Reds should get in on the action in this one as well.
Gini has had little rest thus far, playing more minutes this campaign than any other Red, except Robbo. Keita and Ox are one possibility but Keita and Takumi Minamino are just as likely at this juncture, with Minamino having just opened his scoring account for the Reds at Palace.
It is unlikely we will see Thiago in this fixture, expect him to have another week to get to full fitness and a possible run out at Newcastle next weekend. The gaffer may choose to hold Minamino back to sub in the front line with Divok Origi if necessary.
The front three are already penned in on this tie with Mane, Bobby si senor Firmino, and Mo Salah filling out the sheet.
Look for big Sam to pull back deep and defend against the Reds pressure cooker offensive blitz, with a mind to hit on a quick counter or an over the top pass to nick a goal and give the Reds a game, but this is exactly what Klopp will line up these lads to challenge.
Do not forget, if memory serves, it was Allardyce at Palace who defeated the Reds at Anfield the last time they lost 2–1 to Crystal Palace in April 2017.
A victory here for Klopp and the Reds will all but assure they head into the new year at the top where these champions have proven this autumn that they belong.