League toppers Liverpool FC play hosts to 19th-placed West Bromwich Albion at Anfield on Sunday as Jurgen Klopp’s men hope to carry on their rich vein of form in domestic football.
A 7-0 win over Crystal Palace last time around in the Premier League propelled the Merseysiders to a four-point lead over second-placed Leicester City in the league standings and gave a massive boost to Liverpool FC’s goal difference across this season.
The Reds frontline was in red hot form at Selhurst Park the past weekend, and in spite of much-needed rest awarded to Mohammad Salah, Klopp’s side were absolutely sensational while going forward against the Eagles backline.
Salah did come on the pitch with half an hour still to play on the clock, with the ex-AS Roma star netting two goals in quick succession to take his tally to 13 goals for the fledgeling league campaign.
Roberto Firmino’s return to finding the back of the net week in and week out of late has come of great importance to the Champions of England following the Brazillian’s indifferent form in front of the goal since the turn of the year.
Three goals in his last two outings in the Reds shirt would mean that Firmino would be in line to cause mayhem against a fragile-looking West Brom defence, one which has conceded 29 goals this season in the Premier League.
Recently appointed to the manager’s hot seat at the West Midlands-based outfit, Sam Allardyce remains the last visiting manager to leave Anfield with a win, all the way back to his reign as the Crystal Palace boss in April 2017.
However, in his early days at West Brom, Allardyce is not expected to repeat his previous heroics at Anfield come Sunday as the ex-England manager’s new club struggles to stay clear of the relegation drop.
WHEN & WHERE?
Next up, @WBA (H) 💪
UP THE REDS 🔴 pic.twitter.com/09Bnx8zyrE
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 24, 2020
Date: Sunday 27 December
Time: 3 PM GMT
Venue: Anfield
TEAM NEWS
A week-long rest for the Premier League holders thankfully does not bring about any fresh injury concerns for Jurgen Klopp and Co., who already have faced a number of issues on that front in recent months.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain returned to the first-team fold at Anfield last Sunday for the first time this season and the English international was on target to register an assist for Salah’s second of the game against Crystal Palace.
Jurgen Klopp could be lured to give Chamberlain a much-deserved start against The Baggies at Anfield as Gini Wijnaldum could drop down to the bench in order to gather some much-needed rest in light of the tough fixture scheduling for the Reds around the looming festive period.
All focus on @WBA 👊🔴 pic.twitter.com/ZgHoQaevIm
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 23, 2020
Xherdan Shaqiri and James Milner both returned to training earlier this week, and joining the duo in working their way to full fitness was long-term injury absentee Thiago Alcantara, but whether the trio makes the matchday squad for the upcoming fixture remains to be seen.
RECENT FORM
Liverpool form: W-W-D-D-W
West Bromwich Albion form: L-D-L-L-W
KEY BATTLE
Mohammad Salah vs Kieran Gibbs
As speculation surrounds the Egyptian forward’s future at Anfield, all eyes will be on Salah come Sunday as he lines up to face off against ex-Arsenal man Gibbs on the right flank.
13 goals to his name this season is clear evidence of Salah’s supreme quality whilst on the pitch for Jurgen Klopp’s side and the 28-year-old will surely be looking to increase his tally even further over the weekend.
MATCH PREDICTION
Sunday’s visitors to Anfield carry an infamous record of the second-highest goals conceded this season in top-flight football, coupled with an uninspiring frontline.
Sam Allardyce harbours an ability to chalk out results in his side’s favour but the veteran manager could prove to be helpless if Jurgen Klopp’s men turn up with their level best to increase their lead at the top of the standings, which is why we see the Reds coming out on top with a 3-0 victory.
