Liverpool visited the Hawthorns in the final game of their Premier League season hoping to end the campaign on a high. Jurgen Klopp fielded a heavily rotated side which seemed in line with the team that faced Watford a week ago with the Europa League in mind. It was the Baggies who opened the scoring in the 13th minute as a misplaced pass sent Jonathan Leko on a driving run at the Liverpool defence which saw him put Solomon Rondon through on goal. Rondon shot past a hapless Adam Bogdan to open the scoring.
It was Jordon Ibe who answered the call for a response 10 minutes later as he went on a fine solo run and fired the ball past the West Brom keeper after gliding past defenders at will. The rest of the encounter became a cagey affair and saw the Baggies come out with a draw leaving the Reds firmly rooted in 8th in the league.
Here’s a look at the player ratings.
West Bromwich Albion
Ben Foster – 5/10
Ben Foster was unsighted for the Jordon Ibe goal which went through a defender’s legs but hardly had much to do otherwise. He made a couple of regulation saves.
Craig Dawson – 6/10
Craig Dawson had a decent game and kept young Ojo on a leash for a long time. He could’ve perhaps won it for the Baggies but for a timely Martin Skrtel intervention. He linked up well with Leko going forward and whipped in a decent cross or two.
Gareth McAuley – 6/10
Gareth McAuley seemed quite in control of his box and did well on the night except for the goal when nearly the entire defence was left in sixes and sevens anyway. The centre-back was often left having to cover for his partners in defense and did a good job overall.
Jonas Olsson – 5/10
Jonas Olsson had a decent start to the game as he seemed to have the measure of Benteke in the air but he did leave a bit of space open for the charging Jordon Ibe who scored. Olsson was only too willing to stick a leg out on the tackle and seemed to spiral downwards in the game. He was subbed off at half time.
Jonny Evans – 5/10
Jonny Evans was left flat and that too out of position for Liverpool’s opening goal. He did have the odd count of trouble defending but had a reasonable game overall. He was booked for his troubles, though.
Claudio Yacob – 6/10
Yacob did a good job of screening the area ahead of his defenders and repossessed the ball crucially on many occasions. His passing did leave a lot to be desired but he put in a good shift overall.
Darren Fletcher – 5/10
Darren Fletcher was left defending for most of the game and could hardly make any impact going forward. His passing was often predictable enough to be cut off as well.
Craig Gardner – 5/10
Craig Gardner was left considering his chances throughout the game as his most telling contributions ended up being defensive ones. He seemed to be easily charged down when with the ball in dangerous positions and his delivery from open play or set pieces didn’t leave any lasting impact.
Jonathan Leko – 7/10
Jonathan Leko had a good game by most accounts. He created the West Brom goal after cutting out a wayward Joe Allen pass and driving into the final third to find Rondon while riding challenges all the way through. He also linked up well with Dawson for much of the game and was substituted for Tyler Roberts later on.
James McClean – 6/10
James McClean received the ball in many dangerous positions but was unable to make it count with shots going wide and delivery off the mark. He did give Flanagan a lot of trouble all evening. He was subbed off in the closing moments of the game.
Salomon Rondon– 8/10
Salomon Rondon was a nightmare for the Liverpool defenders to deal with. He used his power to great effect as he scored the opener by exploiting space between the centre-back and full-back really well. He could’ve had another but for his attempt touching the inside of the post. He was thwarted by last-ditch challenges on more than one occasion.
Substitutes
James Chester – 6/10
James Chester came on for Jonas Olsson at half-time and did well to keep things in check at the back.
Tyler Roberts – 5/10
Tyler Roberts replaced the teenage Leko 20 minutes from full time. His first contribution was to completely clatter Jordan Henderson for which he was booked in a minute of a coming on. He did stretch play a couple of times but did nothing of much note otherwise.
Sam Field – N/A
Sam Field took to the field for James McClean in the 87th minute.
Liverpool
Adam Bogdan – 5/10
In a game that could be his last in a red shirt, Adam Bogdan went onto display all the snippets of hesitation that have raised many an eyebrow at him in the past. He was beaten on the near post for the opening goal. He continued to seem out of sorts albeit without being tested all that much.
John Flanagan – 5/10
John Flanagan tried to put in a shift but was looking really off the pace. The return to fitness hasn’t really been a solid one and he seemed regularly beaten for fitness as the game progressed
Lucas Leiva – 6/10
Lucas Leiva seemed to be a willing party to playing the ball out and didn’t seem too out of place in a position he’s only just learned to play in. He did seem beaten for power in the air and was unable to react quickly for the goal which was from a chance born of the space between him and Brad Smith.
Martin Skrtel – 7/10
Martin Skrtel could not be faulted for giving his best in what could be his last game for the Reds in a long career with the Merseyside club. He tackled, intercepted and blocked at full capacity and put in a good performance overall.
Brad Smith – 5/10
John Leko had a field day and not in part due to Brad Smith showing deficiencies in the positioning part of his game. The space between Smith and Lucas was exploited for the goal and Smith failed to suggest he could push Moreno for the regular left back spot anytime soon again.
Kevin Stewart - 5/10
Kevin Stewart had a bit of a rough game and seems to be a handy option to have on occasion but will in the long run not be a very viable regular option for The Reds. He could’ve done better on the night.
Joe Allen – 5/10
Joe Allen didn’t really have a good game at a time when almost everything he does seems to turn into something important for his team. This time, though, it was something which led to the opposition scoring as his wayward pass set Johnathan Leko on his way to an assist.
Jordon Ibe – 6/10
Jordon Ibe had a game that reeks of the drop in credit and confidence that he has suffered this season except for a moment of absolute brilliance which brought him into the side little over a season and a half ago in the first place. Ibe made a mockery of Jonny Evans and ran 50 yards while gliding past a flurry of defenders before slotting in past the West Brom keeper. He was average otherwise.
Sheyi Ojo – 6/10
Sheyi Ojo has a spark about his overall play but seemed to be rather subdued on the night which is again characteristic of a player of his age. He did draw fouls on him and could’ve been a greater threat on the night.
Cameron Branagan – 6.5/10
Cameron Branagan showed great nerve for a boy so young and kept things simple but released the ball quick when the occasion required it. He didn’t seem out of place at all and could be a major player next season.
Christian Benteke – 6/10
Christian Benteke was ever-willing to offer himself as an outlet but was again not very convinced of the way the ball was delivered to him. He did have a chance or two, though. One ended up in the side-netting and the other fizzled out by virtue of a poor touch. Industrious but not good enough just yet.
Substitutes
Danny Ings – 5/10
Danny Ings made his much-awaited return to the Liverpool side after an injury-stricken season. He seemed to be in fine nick but was not really match fit. He came on in the 64th minute for Jordon Ibe.
Jordan Henderson – 5/10
Club captain Jordan Henderson came back in from his own injury nightmare, coming on for Joe Allen on the 64th minute and looked decent on the ball. He was at the receiving end of a rough tackle which seemed to have hurt him but shook it off easily enough.
Sergi Canos – N/A
Sergi Canos made his Liverpool debut after coming on for Sheyi Ojo on the 81st minute but hardly enough time on the ball to show his ability.
