We played against each other as kids, I was always an admirer so it’s great to play alongside him after all these years – Jake
JAKE Livermore is relieved to finally be on the same team as inform striker Dwight Gayle – having played against him at school!
The duo were arguably West Bromwich Albion’s two best players in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat of Stoke at The Hawthorns. They combined beautifully for Gayle’s all-important second goal – his third for the club – with Livermore picking out the forward’s run in behind the Potters’ defence.
It was only Gayle’s fourth start in Albion stripes yet the Londoners already have an understanding that might just stem from their childhood days.
“We used to play against each other as kids,” explained Livermore, who grew up in Enfield, a short distance from Walthamstow, Gayle’s old stomping ground. “I was always an admirer so it’s great to play alongside him after all these years. He’s been different class since he has come in. He’s a bright spark.”
Head coach Darren Moore kept faith with his new 3-4-1-2 formation, despite the setback defeat at Middlesbrough last month, and it paid off as West Brom recorded a fourth win in a row on home soil.
Albion remain a work in progress but Livermore is confident the summer signings are beginning to gel and the new system is starting to bring out the best in the squad.
“It’s always good to get a win here at The Hawthorns,” said Livermore, who Stoke boss Gary Rowett felt should have been sent off deliberate handball. “We were disappointed with the last result at Boro but it was great to bounce back with a decent victory against Stoke. “We’re trying a different style of play. It’s a different type of football to what we have played the last few years. “We need our fans to be with us and they have been, to be fair. We appreciate their patience and support. “We all want the same thing and that’s success. We are going in the right direction.” Livermore will train with the Bag- for a gies over the next fortnight having been omitted from Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the games against Spain and Switzerland.
Matt Phillips has withdrawn from the Scotland squad after reporting a slight ankle injury following Saturday’s game.
The lively winger, among West Brom’s strongest performers so far this season, had been selected for internationals versus Belgium and Albania.
He will now focus on a recovery which the club are confident will see him return for the derby at Birmingham City a week on Friday.
The Baggies also expect Phillips’ Scotland team-mate James Morrison to be available for the short trip to St Andrew’s.
Morrison was held back from firstteam consideration against Mansfield last midweek and Stoke because of a slight groin strain, but expects to train later this week.