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Liverpool remain at the top of the league but received full treatment from Sam Allardyce in yesterday’s 1-1 draw with West Brom.
It was a disappointing result for Jurgen Klopp and his men, with the opportunity to stretch their wasted lead over Everton.
The Blues are now three points behind the Reds before hosting Manchester City tonight.
Sadio Mane gave Liverpool an early lead in a comfortable opening period of the game.
But Allardyce’s tactics kept West Brom in the game and Semi Ajayi earned them a welcome point with a late header.
Two problems were exposed for Liverpool: the injury situation, especially at the rear, and a string of poor results against the teams at the bottom of the table.
The wider media picked up on these two issues in their analysis of the game.
Here’s what has been written about the shock at Anfield …
“ Allardyce does it again to create unexpected frustration ”
Andy Hunter in the Guardian: Sam Allardyce’s reputation is not based on Liverpool’s boredom at Anfield, but he has developed a rare talent to do so nonetheless. The last coach invited to win a Premier League game here – over three years and 67 games ago – became the first to deny champions Jurgen Klopp the three points at home this season as West Brom nabbed a draw to the precious lot in their attempt to extricate themselves. the relegation zone.
Liverpool had previously lost just two points out of a possible 48 at Anfield throughout 2020, but their last home game of the year proved to be an unexpected frustration. In terms of performance and result.
Joel Matip stood up with kidnapper tension and immediately signaled to the bench that he couldn’t continue. Liverpool’s injury concerns have started to ease in recent times, as evidenced by the return of James Milner and Xherdan Shaqiri to a strong and experienced substitute roster that includes Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, but it’s the concentration of punches in central defense who tested the resources. .
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‘Allardyce’s plan is clear but Liverpool miss an opportunity’
Chris Bascombe for the Telegraph: At first, there was an extraordinary visual representation of Allardyce’s plan. In the first half, Liverpool’s defensive line was practically on the edge of West Brom’s penalty area. Alisson, such an isolated character on stage, one wondered if he was going to do a performance of “Lonely This Christmas” often stood a few feet from the center circle. The Brazilian came out of the players’ tunnel five minutes before his teammates early in the second to keep warm.
Liverpool remain in the lead, but they will curse the missed opportunity to put more distance between them and the field. It was the opportunity to make a statement, ensuring they will end the year as they started it, leading the league while others wonder what will stop them. Instead, they offered the hunters hope.
Whether it was Allardyce who put a stop to the growing momentum – he also got a draw on his last visit to the league when the Everton manager – made Anfield’s mood even worse.
‘Full-time frustration for Liverpool’
Neil Johnston for the BBC: There was a deep sense of full-time frustration on the part of the Liverpool players after dropping league points at Anfield for the first time this season.
Klopp, who was booked in the second half by referee Kevin Friend for protesting a decision, went to the Kop to recognize the 2,000 fans allowed into the floor as the home side made their way to the locker room knowing that she had missed two points.
It’s been a monumental 2020 with the Reds ending a 30-year wait for a league title, but it wasn’t the outcome they wanted in their last home game of 2020.
Klopp’s side dominated the first half, boasting 84% possession, but were unable to add a lavish finish by Senegal striker Mane.
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‘No extenuating circumstances for Liverpool as West Brom buzzes’
Neil Atkinson from Anfield Wrap: Two have fallen. More than anything so far this season, two have fallen. It was a huge missed opportunity for Liverpool after a second half that made it seem like their lack of quality. I wished I had more. I would have liked there to have been extenuating circumstances, but there are none.
Liverpool find themselves taking just three points from West Brom, Fulham and Brighton. There is a bit of a mythology that there are no easy games in this league. There isn’t one, but there are easier games. They are three of them.
It’s good not to win. It’s good to get beaten up frankly. It is good to go in search of victory. But it is not good to be soft, to let a camp leave this ground not exhausted by the company. West Brom will be buzzing on the return bus, ready for the middle of the week.
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