Liverpool had to settle for a goalless draw against West Brom on Saturday, as their top-four hopes were effectively put to bed.
West Brom 0-0 Liverpool
Premier League – The Hawthorns – Saturday, 26th April 2015
Pre-match
Brendan Rodgers made three changes to the side that lost so disappointingly to Aston Villa last weekend, with Glen Johnson, Jordon Ibe and Mario Balotelli all earning starts.
Alberto Moreno, Joe Allen and Lazar Markovic were the three to miss out, with the former suffering from a slight knock.
It was a must-win game for Liverpool, with anything other than three points all but ending any lingering hope of a top-four finish.
First-half
The Reds started in a 4-3-3 formation, with Emre Can and Johnson at right and left-back, respectively, and Ibe and Raheem Sterling in the attacking wide positions.
Former Everton striker Victor Anichebe almost pounced from close-range after five minutes, but it was an otherwise low-key opening 20 minutes that Liverpool dominated possession-wise.
Coutinho fired a shot over the crossbar, in what was the first real shot on note in the match, while Steven Gerrard, making his 500th Premier League appearance, curled a free-kick inches over.
Coutinho missed the target with a Xabi Alonso-esque effort from the halfway line soon after, and the lively Balotelli sent a fizzing volley just over Boaz Myhill’s goal 10 minutes before half-time.
At the interval it was goalless, and although Liverpool had enjoyed 66 per cent possession, they had done very little with it.
Second-half
The second-half started in the same way the first-half ended, with West Brom happy to let the Reds have the ball but few chances being created.
Gareth McAuley headed well wide in the 54th minute, which was the home side’s first chance since Anichebe’s early opportunity.
Jordan Henderson was denied by a brilliant block by Joleon Lescott, with the goal seemingly gaping, while Craig Gardner volleyed into the side-netting following poor defensive work by Johnson.
Ibe rattled the crossbar after a brilliant run midway through the second-half, as Liverpool desperately searched for a priceless winner.
A combination of Simon Mignolet and the impressive Dejan Lovren denied Anichebe a soft goal following Martin Skrtel‘s error, as the game showed signs of growing stretched. After 74 minutes, Lallana and Fabio Borini replaced Ibe and Balotelli.
Gerrard shot straight at Myhill with 12 minutes left on the clock, and an outrageous Coutinho shot just missed the target two minutes.
That elusive goal failed to arrive, sadly, with Mignolet denying Callum McManaman and Lovren heading wide at the other end in the dying seconds.
The two dropped points surely signals the end of Liverpool’s already remote Champions League hopes this season.
Liverpool: Mignolet, Skrtel, Lovren, Can, Johnson, Gerrard, Henderson, Coutinho, Ibe (Lallana 75), Sterling, Balotelli (Borini 75).
Subs not used: Jones, Toure, Manquillo, Allen, Markovic.
West Brom starting XI: Myhill, Dawson, McAuley, Lescott, Brunt, Gardner, Fletcher, Yacob, Morrison (Baird 81), Berahino (Ideye 75), Anichebe (McManaman 84).
Subs not used: Olsson, Gamboa, Sessegnon, Rose.
Referee: Roger East
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