West Brom 1-2 Liverpool: Player Ratings

Liverpool players paid a visit to The Hawthorns, a ground the Reds are without a win in for 12 games running. A win in the 35th game week of the Premier League would get Liverpool just one point behind 4th placed Chelsea, who will take on 3rd placed Leicester in the next match day. Winning all three remaining games confirms a Champions League spot for the Merseyside outfit.

Liverpool’s injury curse continued before kickoff, with Diogo Jota ruled out for the rest of the season after a foot injury the Portuguese picked during at last week’s visit to Old Trafford, where he had scored the Liverpool equalizer.

We only saw two changes in the starting eleven, with Jota making way for Sadio Mané and Georginio Wjinaldum dropped for local boy, Curtis Jones. Wjinaldum not starting meant that Roberto Firmino captained Liverpool for the first time tonight. Ozan Kabak, Naby Keita, Ben Davies, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner remain on the sidelines. None of them are expected to return for the closing two games of the season.

In a heart stopping game, Liverpool pulled through with a last winner header from Alisson Becker (yes, you read that right). After falling behind early, Salah scored the equalizer and Liverpool looked better but failed to capitalize. However, Alisson’s heroics made sure Liverpool still have their own fate in their hands in the top four race.

This result puts us only one point behind Chelsea who are two points below Leicester. If Liverpool manage to win the last two games, the Champions League anthem will blare out once again at Anfield next season.

This was the first time in Liverpool history when a goalkeeper had scored a goal for the club. Alisson also became the first Premier League goalkeeper ever to score a winning goal, and one of the only 6 ‘keepers to score a goal at all.

Here are the player ratings:

ALISSON BECKER 8.5

Alisson Becker scoring the winning goal for Liverpool

(Photo by PA Images/Sipa USA)

He scored the winner. He couldn’t do much for the West Brom goal so not really his fault. He also scored the winner. He made a massive save later in the game to keep Liverpool alive. And yes, he also scored the winner.

TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD 8.5

Yet another stunning game, from minute one he was dominant along the right flank. He has well and truly found his form back.

RHYS WILLIAMS 6.5

Was very poor for the West Brom goal, but he is such a young player. We can’t expect much from him so no room for complaining really.

NATHANIEL PHILLIPS 6.5

He was below average today as well. The central defence as a whole really struggled and kept on getting penetrated.

ANDREW ROBERTSON 7.5

He started strongly but dropped off a bit, probably due to exhaustion. A rest in the midweek fixture would do him really good but that’s highly unlikely.

FABINHO TAVARES 7

One of his poorer games in his Liverpool career, his first half in particular was sub standard. It was his header which made Liverpool lose the possession right before West Brom scored. However, he improved a lot in the second half.

CURTIS JONES 6.5

He kept on getting stifled in the middle of the park and couldn’t provide the breath of fresh air we hoped he would be giving.

THIAGO ALCANTARA 9

What a maestro, even though Liverpool as a whole struggled, he excelled. Absolutely ran the game.

SADIO MANÉ 6.5

This game was up there with one of his worst performances in a Liverpool shirt. Let’s just say he should thank his stars that the only player who could have replaced him in the next game is injured.

ROBERTO FIRMINO 7

Roberto Firmino battles for the ball during Liverpool’s match against West Brom.

His first game starting as a Liverpool captain, and what a missed opportunity to mark it with a great performance, which he fell short of.

MOHAMED SALAH 8.5

We once again ask this question, where would we be without Mohamed Salah this season? Probably fighting for a 13th spot finish. 

SUBSTITUTES  XHERDAN SHAQIRI 6.5

Couldn’t impact the game the way Jurgen Klopp was hoping he world.

GEORGINIO WJINALDUM N/A