Liverpool v West Bromwich Albion [Premier League]

[NJKris]

180px-Liverpool_FC.svg.jpg vs West_Bromwich_Albion.svg.jpg

BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: Anfield
Date: Sunday, 22 April
Kick off: 4pm (BST)
Links: http://www.wiziwig.tv/broadcast.php?...01&part=sports

TEAM NEWS

Goalkeepers Pepe Reina and Doni are available after suspension for Liverpool, with Reina reclaiming his place after a three-match absence.
Defender Jose Enrique could return, having missed the FA Cup semi-final win over Everton.
West Brom forward Marc-Antoine Fortune is a doubt with the hamstring injury he suffered against QPR last weekend.
Jonas Olsson is expected to return after pulling out of that fixture during the warm-up with a tight groin.

MATCH PREVIEW

Would the real Liverpool football club please stand up?
This has already been a 2012 of astonishing contrasts. Their fans have witnessed them collect just 12 points from 14 league matches, yet those who were lucky enough to be at Wembley for the cup games against Cardiff and Everton will treasure those experiences for a very long time.

It seems many Reds' supporters aren't quite sure how best to describe their achievements so far.
At the start of Kenny Dalglish's first full season in charge for 20 years, everything seemed set for Liverpool to make a genuine assault on the Premier League. The side who'd just finished sixth in the table were subsequently strengthened significantly by the arrivals of Charlie Adam, Stewart Downing, Craig Bellamy, Jose Enrique and Jordan Henderson.
While a challenge for the title itself seemed a little premature, Champions League qualification appeared well within their grasp, especially with no European football to complicate their domestic programme.
So is the glass half empty or full? The answer may well lie in the final month of the campaign, which continues with the visit of former Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson, who has already realised his target by comfortably preserving West Brom's top-flight status.
It's worth remembering that Dalglish succeeded him only 15 months ago, with Liverpool in the bottom half of the table; 33 points from the next 16 games not only took them up to sixth but quickly restored the feel-good factor and seemingly gave them genuine momentum to reach the top four.
Realistically, seventh is now the best that they can hope for and, though the FA Cup final looms large, finishing their league programme strongly is surely of equal importance?

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head
Liverpool have won all five previous Premier League meetings with West Brom at Anfield without conceding a goal.
Albion's last victory at Anfield was exactly 45 years before the day of this fixture. They have since gone 24 league and cup visits without success (D6, L18).
West Brom's only triumph in their last 21 league attempts against Liverpool came at The Hawthorns a year ago. They had previously gone 30 years without beating Liverpool.
It is 26 years since West Brom last scored a league goal against Liverpool from open play - current Fleetwood Town assistant manager Craig Madden scored in their 2-1 home defeat on 19 April 1986.

Liverpool
The Reds have only taken seven points from their last nine games. They could go three matches unbeaten for the first time in 2012.
They have dropped points in 11 of their 16 home matches in the Premier League.
Only the two Manchester clubs and Everton have conceded fewer goals than Liverpool (34) this season.
Manager Kenny Dalglish is one short of his 250th top-flight win as a manager, according to Infostrada.
Liverpool have not lost any of the last 10 matches that Andy Carroll has started - winning eight of them - and have not won the past eight without him in the side (D3, L5).
Steven Gerrard is one shy of 150 club career goals.

West Brom
The Baggies have taken just a single point from their last four away matches.
They have earned more points from away matches (22) than at The Hawthorns (20) this season.
Albion are two points better off than at the equivalent stage last season
If Peter Odemwingie scores he will be the first West Brom player to reach 25 Premier League goals for the club.

[Tony07]

Easy win for the pool, I will be very surprised if WB get anything but a whupping from this game

[GWolf1]

2-1 Liverpool, West Brom and in particular Roy Hodgson will want his team to put on a performance to silence the Anfield crowd from the off.

[scouseman]

Uncle Woy back at Anfield. Hope we give him a good round of applause and then proceed to give WBA a right good thrashing.

[Tony07]

Can you imagine what the crowd would be like if Uncle woy beat the pool today, he will be laughing but they sure won't lol

[braysoj1]

hope Liverpool win 2-0

ps hope we get a yes or bloodzeed stream

[cleanprophet]

I expect to see Sterling involved today. He was pulled out of the reserve game on Thursday and has been training with the first team all week. That usually means the player is in the squad for today's game. I'd like to see him start but I can't see Dalglish doing that - it's just not in his management to do something like that. Hopefully, if he doesn't start, he will get 20mins or so in the 2nd half.

[dark destroyer]

Liverpool team
Reina; Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Enrique; Kuyt, Henderson, Spearing, Maxi; Suarez, Carroll
Subs Doni, Coates, Downing, Carragher, Bellamy, Shelvey, Kelly

[uggla]

Liverpool 2:1

[braysoj1]

The Reds team in full is: Reina, Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Enrique, Spearing, Henderson, Maxi, Kuyt, Carroll, Suarez. Subs: Doni, Coates, Downing, Carragher, Bellamy, Shelvey, Kelly.

[LFCMagic]

No Gerrard

[scouseman]

One of these days the reds are going to trash a team really hope it is today. Going for a 3-0 home win.

[NJKris]

It would appear that our best player (SG) is dropable (rested, whatever you want to call it), but our worst player (Henderson) keeps getting the nod, even though he is garbage!!

[LFCMagic]

Had a £10 double at about 7/1, Liverpool home win, and Mancs Everton draw, All we need to do now, IS WIN FFS, not been doing a lot of that this year, esp. at home. Come On You Red MEN...!!

[LFCMagic]

The general Twitter buzz on Steven Gerrard's absence from the Livwerpool 18 appears to be that he has suffered a hamstring tweak. Still awaiting official confirmation.


From BBC Sport site
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17804338

[LFCMagic]

Not even on the bench, suggests an injury I guess.

[LFCMagic]

Cmon Mr YES, giz 1/2 hour build up..PLEEEESE.

[scouseman]

Had a £10 double at about 7/1, Liverpool home win, and Mancs Everton draw, All we need to do now, IS WIN FFS, not been doing a lot of that this year, esp. at home. Come On You Red MEN...!!

really hope you win your bet mate but knowing our lot they cost you the dosh. I have given up trying to think of positive things to say about why Kenny plays Henderson week in week out maybe he got a cut of the transfer fee or something and he has to play a certain number of games to get a a %. Maybe SG is being rested for the cup final?? Still cannot understand why sterling has not be given a chance to show what he can do. Even the Ox at Arsenal is starting games and is a real prospect. If I was him I would leave what does he have to do to get a game??

[antz_lfc]

Everyone hated Lucas a few years back and look how he turned out. I agree that Henderson is crap at the mo, but hopefully he will learn the Anfield way

[LFCMagic]

I remember back in the 80's when everyone hated Ronnie Whelan, and more recently, Carra was despised by many when he was younger.