Five Talking Points from Liverpool 2-3 West Brom

Liverpool followed up Monday night’s disappointing defeat at Swansea with an equally poor performance at home to West Brom, severely denting chances of silverware this season in the process.

Liverpool led early on but then defensive frailties were exposed once more, leaving the Reds just too much to do in the second half. It’s now two defeats in less than a week for the Reds.

READ MORE: Liverpool 2-3 West Brom: Player Ratings

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – Sunday, January 14, 2018: Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk puts the ball into his own net but sees the own-goal goal disallowed during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

The Defending (for a change)

Take your pick from a platter of defending errors that were constant throughout the 90 mins but especially the first half. Gini Wijnaldum and Trent Alexander-Arnold were culprits for the 1^st WBA goal, with Emre Can and Alberto Moreno in the frame for the 2^nd.

Poor decision making, lack of awareness, too long on the ball…move along, nothing new to see here.

Even West Brom’s 3^rd, and Jay Rodriguez’s 2^nd, was completely preventable. Players out of position and a feeble attempt at a back heeled clearance by Joel Matip completely summed it up.

And whilst were at it, the goalkeeper. Simon Mignolet, once again, did nothing to assure the home faithful that he’s worth sticking with.

On the two goals that were ruled out for WBA by the officials, Mignolet’s box presence was questionable, at best. More often than not, he seems too soft in the air when he challenges an opposing player.

Those who thought the signing of Virgil Van Dijk would solve Liverpool’s defensive issues were very, very mistaken.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – Sunday, January 14, 2018: Referee Craig Pawson awards Liverpool a penalty after reviewing a video replay during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

VAR, which is slang for ‘time and mood killer’

Tonight was only the 6^th game in which the VAR technology has been used and it definitely showed. Teething problems were to blame for long delays, some as long as 4 minutes, to make a decision.

Liverpool earned themselves a penalty in the first half when Jake Livermore pulled Mo Salah down in the box, mid-way through the first half.

This only occurred after the referee went back and forth on the decision, using the technology which consisted of a small monitor at the side of the pitch and liasing with VAR official Andre Marriner, who was 200 miles away. The penalty was eventually missed by Roberto Firmino.

We weren’t done there, either. We saw referee Craig Pawson refer back to the VAR for West Brom’s 3^rd goal, although replays would argue this wasn’t necessary in the first place.

Sure, it’s early days. But the FA need to speed up the decision making and also let the fans in the stadium aware as to what’s going on. Minutes passed tonight where the fans must’ve wondered what was going on.

READ MORE: Why it’s imperative that Adam Lallana returns to match fitness as soon as possible

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – Sunday, January 14, 2018: Liverpool’s captain Jordan Henderson and Trent Alexander-Arnold during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

The Midfield

The midfield 3 were deservedly heaped with praise after the City game, but in the Swansea game and then this, the reality of no Coutinho has come back to haunt us.

Emre Can, Gini Wijnaldum and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain looked inept of ideas. Granted, they were industrious and hard-working, for the most part, but there was no spark or creativity. Nobody happy to take the game by the scruff of the neck and make something happen.

James Milner and Jordan Henderson came on at the 65^th minute mark, which breathed a bit of life back into the middle, but for all the hustle and bustle, the fairy dust was missing.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – Sunday, January 14, 2018: Liverpool’s manager Jürgen Klopp makes a triple substitution as he brings on Danny Ings, James Milner and captain Jordan Henderson during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Lack of options on the bench

The transfer window shuts in 4 days, and after tonight, fans will be begging Klopp to go back into the market.

Danny Ings, Dominic Solanke, James Milner, Jordan Henderson…All good pros in their own right, but chasing the game at home, we need more. A vital run of games is coming up, starting with Huddersfield on Tuesday and Spurs the following Sunday. Can we rely on this going forward?

FT: Liverpool 2-3 West Brom – The Reds crash out of the @EmiratesFACup in the 4th round for the 3rd consecutive season. Shambolic defending in that first half costs Klopp. The focus now turns back to the @premierleague and the @ChampionsLeague pic.twitter.com/SWaqfoJIA7

— Anfield HQ (@AnfieldHQ) January 27, 2018

There was no Adam Lallana tonight, who would of made a difference in that lethargic midfield. But after that, it’s slim pickings. If the manager is happy to sell Coutinho, and possibly let Daniel Sturridge go, surely the need is another attacking player who can unlock defences and give the front 3 much needed support, in these types of games.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – Sunday, January 14, 2018: Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino sees his penalty kick hit the cross-bar after it was awarded thanks to VAR (video assisted referee) during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

The pressure on the front 3

Salah, Firmino and Mane have been nothing short of excellent at times recently, but when they aren’t clicking, the rest of the team suffer.

It’s unfair for the rest of the team to just give the ball to one of the front men and expect them to beat 3 defenders and slot one away. Salah is a fabulous player, scoring once again tonight, but he looked a bit off the boil. Mane was brought off on the hour, looking frustrated. And Firmino had a mixed bag – scoring a delicate chip, only to miss a penalty.

If one of the Fab 3 go down, Liverpool may have a serious problem on their hands.

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