LIVERPOOL face West Brom at Anfield this afternoon looking for a third-straight Premier League win.
Jurgen Klopp’s defending champions put seven past Crystal Palace last time out and the German has named a strong starting line-up on Merseyside, including Mo Salah and Sadio Mane.
- Start time: 4.30pm GMT
- TV/Live stream: Sky Sports Main Event/NOW TV
- Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Fabinho, Robertson, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Jones, Mane, Salah, Firmino.
- West Brom XI: Johnstone, Furlong, O’Shea, Ajayi, Gibbs, Phillips, Sawyers, Gallagher, Diangana, Robinson, Grant.
Follow all the latest action with our live blog below…
SUPER SALAH
Premier League top goalscorer Mohammed Salah warms up ahead of this afternoon’s clash.
The Egyptian has bagged thirteen goals in thirteen Premier League games this season.
Credit: AFP
WATCHING ON
Jurgen Klopp keeps a keen eye on the visitors warm up at Anfield.
Kick off is less than half an hour away!
Credit: Reuters
Credit: AFP
LAST MINUTE CHANGE
The Baggies have made a change to the bench with half an hour to go until kick off.
Kyle Edwards is replaced in the dugout by Cedric Kipre.
FANS IN
2000 Liverpool fans will be in attendance at Anfield this afternoon for the visit of West Brom.
Liverpool and Everton are the only two remaining Premier League teams allowed to have fans attending home games.
Credit: Reuters
BOBBY DAZZLER
Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino has been involved in four goals in his last two Premier League games (3 goals, 1 assist), as many as in his first twelve appearances this season (2 goals, 2 assists).
His two goals and assist against Crystal Palace last time out made him the first Brazilian player to reach 100 goal involvements in Premier League history.
Credit: AFP
HUNDRED CLUB
Brazilian midfielder turned defender Fabinho makes his 100th Liverpool appearance this afternoon.
He’s done a remarkable job at the back for the Reds, filling in for the injured Virgil Van Dijk.
STARTING UP TOP
Callum Robinson is in from the start today for the Baggies.
The Irish international striker is West Brom’s joint top scorer in the league alongside Conor Gallagher, with the pair of them bagging two goals so far this campaign.
CHECKING IN
The Reds arriving at Anfield for their last home game of 2020.
Jurgen Klopp will be hoping his side can sign off from Anfield for this calendar year in style this afternoon.
BAGGIES BENCH
Matheus Pereira returns from suspension, but only makes the bench for the Baggies.
6 Harper, 25 Button, 15 Austin, 17 Krovinovic, 21 Edwards, 12 Pereira, 13 Grosicki, 22 Peltier, 20 Ivanovic
LIVERPOOL BENCH
James Milner and Xherdan Shaqiri return to the Liverpool squad this afternoon.
27 Divock Origi, 46 Williams, 47 Phillips, 7 Milner, 18 Minamino, 23 Shaqiri, 62 Kelleher, 15 Oxlade-Chamberlain, 76 Williams
WEST BROM STARTING XI
And this is how the visitors line up to face the champions
1 Johnstone, 2 Furlong, 27 O’Shea, 6 Ajayi, 3 Gibbs, 10 Phillips, 19 Sawyers, 18 Gallagher, 11 Diangana, 7 Robinson, 29 Grant
LIVERPOOL STARTING XI
Here’s how Jurgen Klopps lines up his side this afternoon.
1 Alisson, 66 Alexander-Arnold, 32 Matip, 3 Fabinho, 26 Robertson, 14 Henderson, 5 Wijnladum, 17 Jones, 10 Mane, 11 Salah, 9 Firmino
FIVE MINUTES UNTIL TEAMS
The line-ups will be released in five minutes time, and after that there’s just an hour to wait until kick off.
It’s first against nineteenth, and reigning champions Liverpool against newly promoted West Brom, but anything can happen in the Premier League.
UNBEATEN ALLARDYCE
West Brom manager Sam Allardyce is unbeaten in his last three Premier League away games against Liverpool (W1 D2).
Allardyce was also the last visiting manager to win a Premier League game at Anfield, doing so with Crystal Palace in April 2017.
Credit: Alamy Live News
TEAM NEWS
James Milner and Xherdan Shaqiri could return to the Reds squad for this afternoon’s game after being out of action since last month.
Thiago Alcantara is also back in training for the Champions but will not be risked today.
For the Baggies skipper Jake Livermore misses out through suspension, but Matheus Pereira will return after a suspension of his own.
BOGEY TEAM
After winning ten of their first eleven Premier League meetings with West Brom by an aggregate score of 28-2, Liverpool have won just four of their last 13 against the Baggies (D6 L3).
Is there potential for an upset at Anfield today?
BLEAK FOR THE BAGGIES
West Brom fans will be less pleased with the current standings.
The Baggies have won just one game so far this season, with those three points coming against bottom side Sheffield United.
There is some hope today though, after a battling point against Manchester City in the Baggies last away game.
AS IT STANDS
Liverpool fans will be loving the look of the Premier League table as it stands.
A win today would take the Reds five points clear at the top, despite an injury plagued campaign so far.
STAGE IS SET
The sun is shining and Anfield is ready to host Liverpool’s last home game of 2020.
GOOD AFTERNOON
Welcome to our live blog of Liverpool against West Brom in the Premier League.
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool have the chance to go five points clear at the top of the Premier League this afternoon, having spent a third consecutive Christmas Day at the top of the table.
The Reds have lost just once in the league so far this season and put on a ruthless display last time out, hitting seven past Crystal Palace eight days ago.
West Brom meanwhile have won just once so far this season, and face a tough test today at the home of the Champions.
The Baggies lost 3-0 at home last time out to West Midlands rivals Aston Villa, in what was Sam Allardyce’s first game in charge.
West Brom fans will take some hope into today’s game though, as Allardyce is the last away manager to win a league game at Anfield with Crystal Palace, all the way back in April 2017.
The Baggies also took a point from Manchester City in their last away game, and Slaven Bilic’s last game in charge, and will be hoping for a similarly defensively sound performance today.
Kick off is at 4.30pm and team news is coming up in half an hour.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
