Liverpool player ratings vs West Brom: Hendo laboured, Firmino elite

The skipper completed 85 passes in the first half – nearly twice as many as West Brom – and had a distinct control of matters. But in the second period once again, he was labored, slow, and lacked urgency when Liverpool was desperate for it.

He did provide an anchor and show some creative spark which Liverpool mostly lacked, but it was a poor night by the captain’s lofty standards this season.

Probably his worst night in a Liverpool shirt so far despite his excellent first half.

In 30 Liverpool appearances, Curtis has looked assured, mature and definitive in everything he has done. In the second half tonight, he was lax, immature and somewhat away with the fairies – or so it seemed.

It was his poor decision making that saw West Brom win the corner that they scored from. But there is no doubt that he will be back at his very best – like he was against Tottenham – very, very soon.

A run-of-the-mill Gini Wijnaldum performance, covering every blade of grass and maintaining possession in the midfield – something that frankly wasn’t as needed in the first half as it was in the second.

Maybe Wijnaldum should have been left on the bench at expense of a more creative option, like Takumi Minamino, then brought on to see the game out. But hindsight is a wonderful thing.