Five Things We Learned From Liverpool’s 1-2 Win Over West Brom

After a dramatic stoppage time winner by Alisson Becker, let’s take a look at five things we learned from this important win.

Liverpool earned a massive three points in their hunt for Champions League football next season. West Brom took the lead in the 15th minute from a Hal Robson-Kanu goal.

Then Mohamed Salah levelled the score in the 33rd minute from a wonderful first time strike outside the box. In the 95th minute Alisson Becker pops up in the box and scores an amazing header to rescue the three points and keep Liverpool’s Champions League hopes still alive.

Liverpool have two remaining games against Burnley and Crystal Palace, if they win both of them, then Liverpool will more than likely qualify for the Champions League. So let’s take a look at five things we learned from this very important win against West Brom. 

1) Alisson Becker Is One Beautiful Man

Alisson Becker really saved Liverpool’s blushes today. The Brazilian scored a magnificent header and channeled his inner Peter Crouch to rescue three points for Jurgen Klopp’s side.

Liverpool player celebrating Alisson’s goal

(Photo by PA Images/Sipa USA)

The 28 year-old is usually saving us at the other end of the pitch but today he was needed in front of West Brom’s goal to score the winner. Alisson is only the 6th goalkeeper to score a Premier League goal and the first one to score the winner. This goal will forever be in the history books of English football and hopefully it will be the reason Liverpool qualify for the Champions League next season.

2) This Was The Thiago We Have Been Expecting

Today was a masterful performance by the Spanish maestro Thiago Alcantara. He really showed his class and why us Liverpool fans were so excited for him to join our club. He was definitely the best player on the pitch today and would’ve strolled away with Man of the Match if it wasn’t for Alisson’s last minute heroics. 

The 30 year-old absolutely destroyed West Brom’s midfield and was just passing through them like they weren’t there. He won 10 duels, created 5 chances, recovered the ball seven times, had 120 touches and made 91 passes with 91% pass accuracy. It really was a joy to watch and something Liverpool fans have been expecting to see for a long time, hopefully after today he can continue in this fashion.

3) Liverpool are back to missing chances again 

We all thought Liverpool’s period of pointless shots and missing big chances were behind us after the 2-0 win over Southampton and 2-4 win over Manchester United, but apparently not.

Liverpool had 26 shots on goal but only converted six on target with two of them being the goals. Mane had another poor game and missed a few chances that if they had fallen to other players they might of converted. The players really need to start scoring these as it nearly came back and bite us today.

4) Nathaniel Phillips and Rhys Williams Can’t Play A High Line

Today instilled the idea that our current centre back pairing can’t play the high line that Jurgen Klopp loves to play with Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk. Rhys Williams and Nathaniel Phillips just aren’t fast or mobile enough to deal with it in most games.

West Brom’s goal was brought on for the exact reason, Williams pushed forward and Phillips wasn’t fast enough to cover the young centre-back’s mistake. We aren’t expecting the pair to be as good as Virgil or Gomez in the situations but against a team with a fast, pacey striker, it may be worth just dropping off a little bit and not playing with fire.

5) Two More Wins For Champions League Football!!!

This was a monumental moment for Liverpool’s top four hopes, we were dead and buried before Alisson scored. Also Mohamed Salah once against proved why he has been our best player this season and scoring another very important goal. One point would’ve been disastrous and almost certainly ended the push for Champions League football.

Mohamed Salah’s strike for his goal against West Brom

(Photo by PA Images/Sipa USA)

Top four is still in Liverpool’s hands. If Leicester can beat Chelsea on Tuesday, Liverpool have to win their final two games and they are guaranteed top four. If Chelsea beat Leicester and then both Liverpool and the Foxes win their final games, they will be tied on points and it will go down to goal difference. So if the latter happens, hopefully Leicester don’t score loads v Spurs and Liverpool comfortably beat Burnley and Crystal Palace.