Firmino hit takes Liverpool to 3rd

West Bromwich, April 16: Roberto Firmino fired Liverpool to a 1-0 victory at West Bromwich Albion on Sunday that moved Jurgen Klopp’s men back into third place in the Premier League.

Firmino settled a scrappy game with a close-range header in first half stoppagetime to condemn Albion boss Tony Pulis to his first ever home league defeat against the Reds.

The Brazilian converted a flick-on from Lucas Leiva to seal a fifth win in their last seven games for Liverpool.

They are unbeaten since losing at Leicester in late February and now lead fourth-placed Manchester City by two points, although Pep Guardiola’s team have a game in hand in the race for an auto spot in the League group stage.

Liverpool began to dominate possession but Phillips tried his luck again with an ambitious effort from distance that went high.

After struggling to break down West Brom’s resistance, Liverpool went ahead through a set-piece on the stroke of half-time.

Chris Brunt was penalised for a foul on Divock Origi, and from James Milner’s free-kick the visitors took the lead.

It was flicked on by Lucas to Firmino, who nodded home after reacting quicker than Craig Dawson. Origi could have doubled the visitors’ lead early in the second half when he cut in from the left and curled a right-footed shot just beyond the far post.

Kompany leads by example for City

On Saturday, Vincent Kompany marked his return to the Manchester City lineup with a rare goal with a 3-0 win at Southampton. Pep Guardiola’s team were in control for long periods at St Mary’s, but it wasn’t until the 55th minute that City captain Kompany put them ahead with his first goal since August 2015.