Date: Saturday, October 26
Venue: Anfield
Kick-Off: 15:00 BST Can Liverpool keep up with their push for top spot in the Premier League or will their poor form against West Brom continue on Saturday?
Team News
Liverpool will welcome Lucas Leiva back into the side when they play host to West Brom, after the midfielder missed the 2-2 draw with Newcastle due to personal reasons. Defender Jose Enrique is likely to miss out with a knee injury, while this game will come too soon for not-yet-fit Philippe Coutinho, who is expected back next weekend. West Brom will continue to be without Scott Sinclair, with the winger still sidelined by a hamstring injury. Goalkeeper Ben Foster also remains out, but the Baggies have no new injury concerns. (
BBC)
Key Stats
West Brom have won four of their last five encounters with Liverpool. Daniel Sturridge has scored 13 goals in his last 13 league games. The Baggies are unbeaten in five league games - their longest undefeated run under Steve Clarke. The Reds have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last five league games (six in all competitions).
Likely Line-Ups
Liverpool Mignolet, Toure, Skrtel, Sakho, Johnson, Lucas, Gerrard, Cissokho, Moses, Suarez, Sturridge
West Brom Myhill, Jones, McAuley, Olsson, Ridgewell, Amalfitano, Yacob, Sessgnon, Mulumbu, Berahino, Anichebe
Match Preview
Against West Brom, Liverpool have a particularly poor record. In their home game in this fixture last season, the Baggies ran out 3-0 winners and even went to Anfield and earned a 2-0 victory. The Reds will be hoping to avoid a similar set-back here as they attempt to forge ahead with their title ambitions, and will be well aware that Steve Clarke's men will be formidable opponents. As well as beating the Reds home and away last term, Clarke also oversaw a superb 2-1 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford earlier this season, and will be looking for another scalp this weekend. That win over the defending champions aside, Albion have made a slow and steady start to their league campaign, having drawn their last two games, of which included a 1-1 tie with Arsenal. That's another example of what the Baggies are capable of however, and if Liverpool were hoping to press ahead with their pursuit of top spot with any degree of simplicity, they may have to rethink matters.
Prediction: 1-1