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WEST BROM 1 - 2 LIVERPOOL
West Brom: Robson-Kanu 14’
Liverpool: Salah 33’, Alisson 90+5’
Pre-Match
The first of the three MUST WIN games for top four qualification kicks off today. The pressure is on. Diogo Jota is ruled out of this fixture with an unspecified foot injury. But in better news, Sadio Mane is back in the front three. We also see a midfield appearance for Curtis Jones - supported by experienced colleagues Thiago and Fabinho. This midfield was made for Liverpool Twitter. And Billy Koumetio returns to feature on the bench!
Big Sam has nothing to lose, it’s being said, and he loves to rain on a top club’s parade. Get the win, Reds!
First Half
The first half starts off lackluster with both sides unable to find their rhythm. The game is stretched post to post, but with little fluidity. Liverpool win four corners but are unable to capitalize on any. At 14’, Hal Robson-Kanu takes advantage of a defensive error finding space behind Andy Robertson and Nat Phillips and sends the ball soaring into Alisson’s goal - GOAL to West Brom. At 32’, a lovely interplay between Firmino and Mane from a Fabinho free-kick, is received by Salah who slots the ball into the net punishing West Brom’s lack of awareness and reflex, and GOAL!
Trent has had a great half so far, making pitch-length runs pushing the ball forward per usual, and even making a crucial intervention at 35’ to prevent Robson-Kanu from getting a second goal. The half ends 1-1.
Second Half
Liverpool look brighter and dominate possession in the second half, but were impeded by West Brom throwing bodies at the ball and swarming every Liverpool player. A Sadio Mane tap-in is ruled offside at 48’. At 70’, a goal from West Brom’s Barkley from a corner is ruled out because Alisson’s vision is blocked by an offside player. West Brom’s defences are well organised.
All hope is seemingly lost, and then at 90+5’ Alisson Becker strides across the pitch to help out in a Liverpool corner, and coolly HEADS THE BALL INTO THE GOAL! Narrative FC let’s gooooo!!!!!!
Final Thoughts
I deleted all the mean stuff I’d written about poor finishing, lacking that killer instinct etc etc. Alisson Becker saved this game in 90+5’, that’s all that matters. The top four dream is alive.