Fab Four’s big reunion fails to fire
JURGEN KLOPP threw his entire Fab Four at West Brom last night – but all of Liverpool’s attacking talent found it tough going as the Premier League strugglers dug in for a deserved point.
Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho were both recalled to play alongside Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane against a team who had gone almost four months without a win.
Fielding all of that attacking talent seemed the equivalent of taking a wrecking ball to demolish a doll’s house – only Albion proved much more sturdy than expected.
Klopp cut a frustrated figure as his team threw away two points against Everton on Sunday, when Coutinho and Firmino were left on the bench. He looked gloomy again for long periods last night.
The Liverpool manager made six
LIVERPOOL WEST BROM
minutes for Liverpool, but they almost found a way through eight minutes before half-time, as Trent Alexander-Arnold burst forward and slung over a low, outswinging cross that would not quite bend into the path of Salah.
Just before half-time, Firmino cut in from the left to hit a cross-shot that was charged down, before Salah’s follow-up was blocked.
Albion, though, continued to pose questions. From out on the left, Grzegorz Krychowiak whipped in a free-kick that would have dipped under the bar had Karius not tipped it over. The German goalkeeper then made an even better save as Evans powered a header towards the top REPORTS ❑ WILLIAN has denied speculation linking him with a move to Manchester United. The Brazil star scored a header and set up goals for Tiemoue Bakayoko and Pedro during Chelsea’s 3-1 win at Huddersfield on Tuesday.
Asked about a potential reunion with ex-Blues boss Jose Mourinho, Willian said: “I’m happy here at Chelsea and I really like this club a lot with my heart. Will I be leaving in January? I hope not.”
ROSS HEPPENSTALL