Allen Hamilton
What: English Premier League
Who: West Bromwich Albion (16th; 33 points) vs Liverpool (6th; 45 points)
When: Saturday 2nd April, 2011, at 15:00 UK time
Where: The Hawthornes, West Bromwich, England
Not About Revenge
When Liverpool run out onto the pitch at The Hawthornes they will see a familiar face sitting in the opposition dugout; a face many in their ranks felt would lead the club back into the Champions League and a bright new era. Yet such days did not arrive and Roy Hodgson now finds himself in charge of West Brom, staring at a relegation fight rather than a European push with his new team’s opponents. But the man who was sacked by Liverpool in January insists this will not be a revenge mission.
"It’s another game, but it means a lot because we only have eight left and every game means a lot. I don’t have any feelings of revenge or proving anything", said Hodgson. "I don’t think I need to prove points. If there are people out there who think I need to prove a point then I suggest they look at what I’ve done in the 36 years because I’m more concerned with having that behind me than having debates about six months at a club."
There is no doubt that Hodgson’s arrival has helped West Brom improve and the Baggies are enjoying a four-match unbeaten run under the 63-year-old, which included an impressive 3-1 win away to League Cup winners Birmingham City and a 2-2 draw with title challenger Arsenal. And for defender Jonas Olsson, the new manager deserves to be lavished with praise.
"All of the players are on board with him and taking in his ideas. He’s only had five or so weeks yet we are already seeing the results from the changes he’s made." For Hodgson, the chance to beat Liverpool must surely represent, in his mind, the chance to right a wrong. With the Baggies in good form and ready to run through brick walls for Hodgson, he may never have a better opportunity.
Keep Winning for Europe
Liverpool’s dumping out of the Europa League by Portuguese side Braga removed perhaps the club’s best chance of ensuring continued European football at Anfield next season. However, Kenny Dalglish is refusing to give up hope and, with the Merseyside giants just four points behind fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, albeit having played a game more, there is hope. But winning every game from now until the end of the season could well be required.
The Reds will hope that their new strike pairing of Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez can quickly develop an understanding that might fire them to that all-important sequence of wins and the signs were positive in the comfortable 2-0 win at Sunderland. As the duo clock up more playing time together, the classic "big man-little man" partnership will be a real threat to every opposing Premier League backline.
Defeat at The Hawthornes would be a huge blow to Liverpool’s ambitions and Dalglish is wary of the impact Hodgson has had at West Brom and played down the suggestion the ex-Finland coach has anything to prove. "I don’t think Roy’s got anything to prove to anybody", said Dalglish. "And if you say he’s got extra motivation you’re down to the man’s integrity and implying that he never had enough motivation before."
Yet despite attempting to downplay the significance of Hodgson quickly facing a club whose fans turned on him in a short space of time, Dalglish will be well aware of the stern nature of the test ahead. One look at Arsenal’s failure to beat a revitalised West Brom will have confirmed that.
Recent form
West Brom:
Stoke City 1-1 West Brom (28/02; Premier League)
Birmingham 1-3 West Brom (05/03; Premier League)
West Brom 2-2 Arsenal (19/03; Premier League)
Liverpool:
Braga 1-0 Liverpool (10/03; Europa League)
Liverpool 0-0 Braga (17/03; Europa League)
Sunderland 0-2 Liverpool (20/03; Premier League)
Key absences
West Brom: Carlos Vela (doubt); Somen Tchoyi; Graham Dorrans
Liverpool: Steven Gerrard (doubt); Fabio Aurelio; Martin Kelly
Players to watch
West Brom – Peter Odemwingie: The quick Nigerian forward has had a big impact since arriving at West Brom from Lokomotiv Moscow in the summer and should be a constant threat to the Liverpool defence. Good on the ball, Odemwingie will not be fazed by facing the Reds and has already found the back of the net ten times in the Premier League this season.
Liverpool – Luis Suarez: The Uruguayan may have only been at Anfield for a short time, but already Liverpool are looking to the former Ajax man to provide their creative spark; that bit of magic than can open the most stubborn defence. Suarez did it against Manchester United in the Reds 3-1 win and there is no reason why, if on form, he cannot carve open West Brom here.
Match Prediction
West Brom have improved under Hodgson and the former Liverpool manager should have his side well drilled for the battle ahead. However, all Hodgson’s planning can only go so far and in Carroll and Suarez, Dalglish has two potential match-winners up his sleeve, though the suspicion persists that the duo need more time together. A tough game to call and with West Brom fighting hard they may well be able to scoop a draw. West Brom 1-1 Liverpool.
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