3 key battles as Liverpool host West Brom at Anfield

It’s going to be very much the same for the Anfield faithful on Saturday evening to the game that played out against bitter rivals Manchester United on Monday.

The Baggies are likely to spend long periods of play without the ball and their backs very much against the wall as The Reds’ deadly attack try and find a way through.

Photo: Paul Roberts / Offside.

SHOOT have outlined three key match ups for Saturday evening’s encounter at Anfield where, depending on who comes out on top in these individual clashes, we feel the game will be lost and won…

Roberto Firmino vs Gareth McAuley

20 August 2016 – Premier League – West Bromwich Albion v Everton – Gareth McAuley of West Bromwich Albion celebrates scoring the opening goal (1-0) – Photo: Paul Roberts / Offside.

A major blow for the Baggies is the suspension to key man Jonny Evans. If there was a game this season where you needed your best defender, then it’s probably away at Anfield.

It’s uncertain how Tony Pulis will re-shuffle the defence, but it’s a given veteran McAuley will start and he will have to be at his very best if he’s to keep out Liverpool’s plethora of attacking talent and successfully marshal a patched up back four.

The man likely to lead that attack is Roberto Firmino. There were more than a few who raised their eyebrows when Liverpool bought Firmino, mainly due to the substantial fee associated, but it’s safe to say the Brazilian has already proven he’s worth every penny.

There aren’t many in the league who possess the guile and craft that the former Hoffenheim forward does, and Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has been getting the best out of him this season, with Firmino racking up three goals and two assists already.

A long afternoon for McAuley & Co. me thinks!

Nathaniel Clyne vs James McClean

Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

I’m really intrigued to see how this match-up will play out. Liverpool have been scintillating going forward, but have been a bit shaky at the back at times this season.

Clyne loves to get forward and support the attack so, even though McClean will undoubtedly have his fair share of defending to do Saturday, I’m envisaging the Irish winger to get some joy down Liverpool’s right flank.

He gave Tottenham’s Kyle Walker a real run for his money last Saturday and alongside Nacer Chadli, has been the Baggies best performer of late.

He will undoubtedly have to be at his best though as, much like Walker, Clyne is one of the leagues best right-backs and is just as accomplished in defence as he is in attack.

I’m envisaging a real ding dong battle between these two and excited to see who comes out on top.

Jordan Henderson vs Nacer Chadli

Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

Liverpool’s skipper has been in fine form so far this season. You don’t get many ‘all-rounder’ midfielders these days, with a player tending to specialise in either attack or defence, but Henderson is very effective at both.

He protects the back four well, breaking up play and moving the ball quickly to the more creative players within the team. But he’s no slouch going forward either. He has a wonderful passing range and is very accomplished in front of goal also, as his absolute worldie against Chelsea a few weeks back proved.

He will have his work cut out Saturday though as he will likely to be tasked with keeping the in-form Nacer Chadli quiet.

Chadli looks set to be one of the signings of the season. The Belgian international already has four goals and two assists from five league appearances and looks to be that missing piece of the jigsaw that Tony Pulis has so desperately craved.

Slotting into that no.10 role, he has linked up well with Baggies striker Salomon Rondon and is providing that much needed spark to a very rigid and regimented Albion team.

If he’s kept quiet though, it’s difficult to see where the Baggies creativity will come from, and keeping him quiet will be exactly what Henderson will be looking to do. A great test for both players.