West Brom vs Liverpool - as it happened: Firmino header secures victory for the Reds
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Your support makes all the difference.Liverpool travel to West Brom in search of all three points as they bid to secure a top-four finish. As for the home team, Tony Pulis’ men continue to sit pretty in the middle of the table with 44 points to their name having enjoyed a respectable season so far.
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When is it?
Kick-off is 13.30 at The Hawthorns, Sunday 16 April.
Where can I watch it?
Sky Sports 1. Coverage starts at 12.45.
Remember when…
Luis Suarez scored a scintillating hat-trick to help fire Liverpool to a 4-1 victory? The Reds ran riot at Anfield as they brushed past an overwhelmed West Brom side in October 2013.
Past three meetings…
Liverpool 2 West Brom 1, Premier League, October 2016
West Brom 1 Liverpool 1, Premier League, May 2016
Liverpool 2 West Brom 2, Premier League, December 2015
Form guide…
West Brom: LLDWLL
Liverpool: WDWDWW
Odds…
West Brom to win: 15/4
Liverpool to win: 19/25
Draw: 14/5
(Odds provided by Bet 888)
32 min: An out-of-shape Liverpool defence gets caught as a dissecting ball from deep plays Robson-Kanu through on goal. Lucky for the visitors, the flag goes up for offside. Close shave that one.
34 min: Like a ball in a china shop, Firmino breaks down West Brom play inside their own final third and immediately picks out Coutinho ahead of him. A shimmy and a shake ensues, followed by a testing curled effort that floats dangerously towards the top right corner. There's just a bit too much on it though and sails over the cross bar for a goal-kick.
39 min: Lovren sends Matip down the river as he over-hits what should have been a simple pass to his team-mate. The defender races to stop it from going out but to no avail. West Brom throw-in.
40 min: Lucas and Robson-Kanu come together just inside the Liverpool half as both men give chase to a weighted ball in behind the visiting defence. The two crash to the deck but it's Lucas who is awarded the free kick. Right decision? Replays show the West Brom forward made contact with the Brazilian's face as he attempted to push him away.
44 min: Liverpool free-kick after Evans charges into the back of Clyne to send him tumbling. It's pumped in from the right but fails to make it any further than the edge of the West Brom box.
GOAL! West Brom 0-1 Liverpool (Firmino, 45+1 min)
From another free-kick on the right Milner fired one towards the West Brom box. It was a weak delivery but Lucas was on hand on the edge of the penalty area to help it on its way. With a flick of the Brazilian's head, the ball proceeded to sail to the unmarked Firmino who did the rest from five yards out at the back post. An important goal that will come as a huge psychological blow to the home side.
HALF TIME: West Brom 0-1 Liverpool
Up until Firmino's goal, it'd been a largely uneventful half that saw the visitors struggle to break down their stubborn opponents. Liverpool had flashed here and there, courtesy of the effervescent Coutinho, but lacked the cutting edge to blow away Tony Pulis' side. That goal will come as a huge disappointment for West Brom and now provides Liverpool with a strong platform from which to secure all three points.
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