Liverpool served up a mixed bag on Sunday afternoon, as they came back to secure a 2-2 draw at home to West Bromwich Albion.
Liverpool 2-2 West Brom
Premier League – Anfield – Sunday 13th December 2015
Goals: Henderson 21′, Origi 90+6′; Dawson 30′, Olsson 73′
Simon Mignolet – 3 (out of 10)
Responsible for the first West Brom goal, coming for Chris Brunt’s corner but getting nowhere near it.
Looked uncomfortable from then on, both under crosses and on the ball.
Nathaniel Clyne – 7
You don’t have to have watched this game to know what Clyne brought to it. He’s the consistent presence at right-back Liverpool have needed for a long time.
Motored up and down the right, and almost set Benteke up in the first half with a shot which turned into a great cross.
Martin Skrtel – 6
Demonstrated both sides of his game in the opening minute, winning a great header within the first 10 seconds, then missing an interception shortly after.
Settled in against the considerable challenge of Saloman Rondon.
Dejan Lovren – 6
Got a good header on goal from a free kick in the second half which deflected off his marker for a corner.
Went off with a bad injury later in the game after a challenge from Craig Gardner.
Alberto Moreno – 7
Slowly becoming to Liverpool’s left side what Clyne is to the right.
Offers great pace on his flank.
Emre Can – 7
Passed and battled well from his position in front of the back four, even if he was occasionally drawn out of position.
Shows encouraging signs on the odd occasion he gets forward, and had one shot just wide from an angle at the near post.
Dropped into centre-back after Lovren went off injured, showing his versatility.
Jordan Henderson – 8 (Man of the Match)
Back in the Premier League picture following his foot injury, the captain provided his usual industry in the middle.
It was the type of captain’s performance Liverpool have missed throughout his absence, and he scored the all-important opening goal when one of his bursts into the box saw him able to tap in from six yards out.
Passed well, crossed well, and was in control.
James Milner – 6
Not bad, but not quite Henderson. A good free-kick at the start of the second half almost led to a goal for Lovren.
A pass accuracy of just over 70 percent demonstrates what kind of game he had in midfield.
Adam Lallana – 7.5
Held the ball well in advanced areas, and provided the knockdown for Henderson’s goal.
Should have had a goal of his own when through one-on-one with Myhill, but he hit his shot at the keeper.
Philippe Coutinho – 6.5
Lively if a little rusty following his time out injured.
Blazed a shot over from just inside the area early in the game, and had a few shots from distance throughout.
Christian Benteke – 5
Appeared to be making better runs and taking up better positions than in recent weeks, but struggled to produce any end product.
Substitutes
Jordon Ibe (on for Coutinho, 71′) – 6 – Had a couple of runs at the West Brom defence, but was unable to make an impact off the bench.
Divock Origi (on for Lovren, 79′) – 7 – Scored the goal which grabbed a point for his side after his speculative effort from distance took a deflection on its way into the goal at the Kop end.
Robero Firmino (on for Lallana, 81′) – N/A – A minor contribution.
Jurgen Klopp – 7
Having failed to take control of the game with the 11 men he put out on the pitch from the start, the German manager eventually took a point from the game thanks to a late goal from his substitute Origi.
Klopp’s passion was on show as he encouraged the Anfield crowd to get behind the team late in the game, much to the displeasure of Tony Pulis in the opposing dugout.
He had all the players in a line acknowledging the contribution of the Kop at the end of the game, which he said after the game was to thank the fans for the atmosphere they created.
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LIVERPOOL 2-2 WEST BROM:
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