Liverpool 0-0 West Brom: Solanke goal ruled out in below par LFC performance

Premier League
Wednesday 13 December 2017 - 8:00 pm
Anfield
Liverpool0
0West Brom
Show Match Events
Can68'
71'↔️ Robson-Kanu off, Rodriguez on
Mane off, Solanke on ↔️76'
Wijnaldum off, Oxlade-Chamberlain on ↔️76'
78'↔️ Krychowiak off, Brunt on
Alexander-Arnold off, Gomez on ↔️80'
90' Field
Possession %
7030
Total Shots
146
Shots on Target
51
Shots Blocked
61
Offside
14
Hide Match Events

Liverpool will glad to get away from Anfield after two disappointing draws in the space of 4 days as the were held by Alan Pardew's West Brom.

There was little spark from the reds, apart from brief periods in each half, and substitute Dominic Solanke did have the ball in the net - but it was ruled out for handball.  Whether it was deliberate or not is a debateable point.

But more frustrating was that this was a fairly strong Liverpool line up.  The so-called 'Fab Four' - Salah, Mane, Firmino and Coutinho were all named in the starting side for just the 4th time.  Coutinho captained the side as Emre Can and Wijnaldum came in for Henderson and Milner.

Loris Karius came in for Mignolet who had picked up a slight knock v Everton and the number 1 added another clean sheet to his record - and it was a clean sheet he had to work for because West Brom did have opportunities that required the German keeper to keep the scores level.

As it happened: LFC 0-0 West Brom

It was a pecular flat atmosphere inside the stadium even before kick off so it wasn't a huge surprise that Liverpool started slowly.

But Firmino saw a chance squirm narrowly wide, and later in the half Salah couldn't quite reach a deliciously placed Trent Alexander Arnold cross deep into the area.

From the second half kick off however it was West Brom in the immediate ascendancy.  Karius was called into tip over a curling free kick and the reds had to rely on their keeper to deal with a couple of corners in the following minutes.

Mid way through the half the reds upped their game.  Sadio Mane, who had been quiet, put together a couple of good moves and should have done better after a Firmino one-two.  Ben Foster flapped at a looping cross but there wasn't a Liverpool player close enough to capitalise.

And then Solanke and Oxlade-Chamberlain came on.  And it was Solanke who reacted quickest to a cross into the area.  He chested the ball to control it but it cannoned straight on to his arm and into the net.

The referee initially gave the goal until the assistant referee helped him change his mind.

The young Englishman had another chance minutes later but his shot was cleared just in front of the West Brom line.

And so the minutes ticked down and the reds headed off to lick their wounds and reflect on the 4 lost points over the past 4 days.

Liverpool will need to be better against Bournemouth away this Sunday, and then the pre-Christmas match away at Arsenal who will have their own reason to get revenge.

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