The first game of
the 2012/13 Premier League season for new Baggies Head Coach Steve Clarke
started with a home tie against Brendan Rodgers’ new look Liverpool. Steve
Clarke named a strong squad which included a debut start for Yacob alongside
Mulumbu in the central defence role. Rodgers’ gave Premier League debuts to
midfielder Joe Allen, and striker Fabio Borini. Both teams were looking for a
great way to kick-start the Premier League campaign.
The game started
rather brightly for West Brom as after 3 minutes of the start Ridgewell got the
first shot in goal from 20 yards out, a sweet outside of the boot left foot
shot went just over the bar. This was a good start for West Brom and Steve
Clarke. Liverpool looked a threat early on though, especially Suarez. On the
counter attack Suarez ran down the wing, cut inside and saw his somewhat tame
shot saved by Foster.
Again Suarez had
another chance to put Liverpool 1-0 up in the first half, after some neat
trickery in the penalty box his shot was yet again saved by Foster. The
questioning of Suarez is can he finish? He can carve out these opportunities
but rarely seems to take them. This was proved later on in the game.
Another chance
went begging for Suarez as he found himself free in the box and from 6 yards
out he missed a header which any other striker probably would have converted.
These chances came and soon went and inevitably the lack of taking the chances
took its toll. Just before half time, a corner from the right was put into the
path of Gera; he controlled the ball and smashed in a stunning volley into the
top corner from 25 yards out. Gera’s goal has to be a contender for goal of the
month and it’s only the first week of the Premier League.
At half-time West
Brom went into the break leading 1-0 from a stunning goal from Gera, which
meant Rodgers had some team talk to deliver to his players in the hope they
could draw level in the second half.
Early on into the
second half Mulumbu gave away a silly free kick in a dangerous area for
Liverpool to take advantage of. That man Suarez – who wasn’t having the best of
games – decided to take the free kick but all to no avail as his free kick
sailed wide. Another chance went begging for Suarez and yet again Liverpool
paid the price.
On the
counter-attack Morrison played a through-ball which landed at the feet of Long
after Skrtel had slipped. Long was bearing down on goal and inside the penalty
area he was nudged to the ground by Agger. Agger was the last man and had
denied a goal scoring opportunity hence he was red carded and Liverpool were
now down to 10 men.
Long took the
penalty but couldn’t score it as it was easily saved from Reina. The penalty
from Long is one of the worst I have ever seen; he took a slow walk up to the
ball and passed the ball into Reina’s hands. An opportunity wasted by Long that
could have put West Brom 2-0 up.
However West Brom
had the chance to make it 2-0 because they were awarded another penalty. A bit
of a contentious penalty as Skrtel was dawdling in the penalty area and
couldn’t see Long bearing down on him from behind. Long had nicked the ball and
with Skrtel trying to kick the ball, kicked Long instead which led to the
penalty being given.
This time
Odemwingie decided to take the penalty and fired it home brilliantly into the
bottom corner despite Reina diving the same way. West Brom was now 2-0 up
against a diminished Liverpool but this didn’t stop Liverpool from carving out
chances. From an Allen corner Foster tried to collect the ball but dropped it.
The ball landed at the feet of Suarez who basically had an open goal to aim at
but he blazed his shot high over the bar. Suarez yet again wasted a good
opportunity, which if he had converted could have made a difference if they had
made the score 2-1.
Steve Clarke
bought on in the 70th minute Lukaku and Fortuné who made a huge impact on the
game. From a counter attack Lukaku out turned Carragher with ease and charged
his way to goal. He crossed the ball to Morrison who had all the time in the
world to pick his spot and make it 3-0, unfortunately his shot went over the
bar and an easy chance had gone begging.
This however
didn’t faze West Brom as after Mulumbu found Ridgewell on the left hand side,
he put in a lofted ball to Lukaku who obliged with the headed finish to put
West Brom 3-0 up and send the Albion faithful into ecstasy. Even at 3-0 West
Brom were still trying to force more goals but just couldn’t get the fourth
goal.
Despite being 3-0
down, Liverpool tried to grab that consolation goal and near the end of the
second half Borini chipped the ball over the West Brom defence but Suarez yet
again headed the chance wide. Suarez in this game had an awful game to say the
least, so many chances but just couldn’t score. I can see why his goal per
chance ratio is low, a lad of his talent should be burying these chances but it
just wasn’t happening for him. Carroll did make his cameo appearance but
couldn’t make any impact on the Liverpool performance which just summed up his
frustration.
The game ended 3-0
and it was the perfect result for ex-Liverpool employee Steve Clarke, on the
contrary, for Rodgers this was a disastrous start to his Premier League season
and with a tough home fixture against Premier League Champions Manchester City
Rodgers has to put the faith back into his squad ready for this game. As for
West Brom the victory put them third in the table after the first game week and
with an away fixture at AVB’s Spurs next, West Brom will be delighted they got
a fantastic win over 10 man Liverpool.
No comments:
Post a Comment