West Brom 1-1 LiverpoolHome team scorersJose Salomon Rondon 13
Away team scorersJordon Ibe 23
Jordon Ibe’s Liverpool wonder goal earns a point at West Bromwich Albion
In the grand scheme of things this match meant little more than fulfilling a fixture for Liverpool and West Bromwich Albion but it was vigorously contested, nonetheless, and illuminated by two fine goals plus the returns from injury of Jordan Henderson and Danny Ings.
Salomón Rondón blasted Albion into the lead in the 13th minute after a marvellous run by Jonathan Leko, and Jordon Ibe equalised 10 minutes later with a splendid solo goal.
The draw meant Liverpool finished eighth in the Premier League but their season will end in glory – and qualification for next season’s Champions League – if they beat Sevilla in Wednesday’s Europa League final.
Liverpool’s lineup here bore scant resemblance to the one likely to start in Basel but still had players with important cases to make, such as Ibe, Martin Skrtel and Christian Benteke. Henderson was included among the substitutes five weeks after suffering a knee injury and Ings was available for action 224 days after suffering an even more serious one. Both players were introduced midway through the second half and looked lively during their short time on the pitch. Less auspiciously, Divock Origi was not in the squad at The Hawthorns, suggesting he has not recovered sufficiently from his ankle injury to make a playing appearance in Basel.
After a well-judged tribute by Albion to the victims of the Hillsborough tragedy, sporting hostilities unfolded here with slightly less ruggedness than when the sides met at Anfield in mid-season, when Jürgen Klopp was angered by Albion’s approach, especially a tackle by Craig Gardner on Dejan Lovren.
Tony Pulis insisted after that game that he had nothing for which to reproach his team, and nor did he have intention of making things easy for the visitors here.
It was magic rather than muscle that inflicted the first wound on Liverpool in the 13th minute. Leko, a 17-year-old with thrillingly dangerous dribbling skills, seized on a slack ball by Joe Allen before skedaddling past three defenders and flipping a clever pass through to Rondón. The Venezuelan smashed a low 10-yard shot in at the near post. The drive was ferociously struck but Adam Bogdan, making his first appearance since an embarrassing outing against Exeter City in January, might have done better.
Liverpool were looking lethargic until Ibe took it upon himself to inject some urgency –and, in the process, draw level. The winger made Jonny Evans seem oafish as he feinted his way past him on the right wing and then glided 20 yards forward before racing into the box, past Jonas Olsson and firing into the net despite an attempted block by Craig Dawson. It you are going to wait until the final day to score your first league goal of the season, best make it a beauty.
Liverpool had most of the possession in the remainder of the first half and embroidered some pretty patterns, Sheyi Ojo being particularly eye-catching. Allen, who grew in influence, should have hit the target on the half hour but dragged a low shot wide.
Albion refocused during the break and almost regained the lead soon afterwards, Rondón darting between Benteke and Allen to head a free-kick by Gardner against the post and then skew the rebound over the bar from a tight angle. Rondón went close again in the 61st minute after another fine run by Leko, who offloaded for Craig Dawson to fizz a cross from the right into the near post. Rondón got to it first but glanced his header wide.
Four minutes later the Venezuelan was presented with yet another chance but he miskicked when he was mysteriously left free again at the back post and then he shanked his second effort wide.
Liverpool posed virtually no attacking threat in the second half and began to look disjointed as the game went on. It was not easy for the 19-year-old forward Sergi Canós to make an impression after being introduced in the 80th minute for his debut. But three minutes from time a mistake in midfield gave Benteke an opportunity to create a happy ending for the visitors; alas, as Henderson called for a simple pass in front of goal, the striker over-ran the ball and was dispossessed.
Guardian
