West Brom vs. Liverpool: Team News, Live Stream, TV Info, Ticket News
West Bromwich Albion welcome Liverpool to the Hawthorns on Sunday afternoon for their last Premier League clash of the season—in what is a bumper programme of fixtures across the English top flight.
Providing a conclusion to what has been a mediocre league campaign for both sides, this contest could be a cathartic process for managers Tony Pulis and Jurgen Klopp, as one last blowout before a busy summer of transfers, training and pre-season pageantry begins.
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The Baggies have staved off relegation once again, while the Reds find their focus elsewhere, with the UEFA Europa League final to come on Wednesday night, as Klopp pits his side against Sevilla at Basel's St Jakob-Park, so there's little to play for in this end-of-season affair.
Nevertheless, both Pulis and Klopp are hardened, ambitious managers seeking victory at all costs, so this matchup promises to be a tense one—as West Brom look to build on December's 2-2 draw at Anfield with a home win.
Will Klopp's Liverpool finish of the season in style and build up momentum ahead of next week's final or can Pulis push his side closer to mid-table with a triumph over top-tier opposition?
Date: Sunday, 15 May
Time: 3 p.m. BST/10 a.m. ET
Venue: The Hawthorns, West Bromwich
TV Info: MSNBC (U.S only)
Live stream: NBC Sports Live Extra (U.S. only)
Form Lines (Last 5 Games)
West Brom: L-L-D-L-D
Liverpool: L-L-W-W-D
Team News
Having secured safety, with little to play for on Sunday beyond pride, Pulis could look to navigate a number of first-team injuries by employing some of his talented youth players.
The Welshman will be without long-term absentees James Morrison (hamstring) and Chris Brunt (ACL), while James McClean (back), Alex Pritchard (hip) and Stephane Sessegnon (illness) remain doubts, though Jonny Evans (groin) and Darren Fletcher (ankle) are likely to be made available.
Speaking to reporters including the Birmingham Mail's Paul Suart on Friday afternoon, Pulis hinted that he would bolster his side with young talent:
"I’m looking to get the kids involved again I've got to be honest.
Fletcher has had a knee injury and hurt his ligaments about six weeks ago but he’s carried on playing with a couple of injections. We've been careful with him in training.
It's fantastic to have [Jonathan] Leko, Sam [Field] and Tyler [Roberts] around the place. It's been wonderful for them to see him work and with them.
"
Leko will be hoping to make his third consecutive start for the Baggies, while Field and Roberts can expect another appearance on the substitutes' bench at the very least.
Liverpool's starting lineup could have an inexperienced edge, too, with Klopp juggling his squad ahead of Wednesday's all-important clash with Sevilla.
The German will be without Joe Gomez (ACL), while Jordan Henderson (knee), Divock Origi (ankle), Danny Ings (ACL) and Danny Ward (knee) are all doubts for the clash as they continue their recovery from injury.
Klopp is also without Jordan Rossiter, with the 19-year-old joining Rangers on a free transfer on Friday evening, though many of the midfielder's former academy team-mates can hope to feature.
However, addressing the media on Friday, as relayed by the Liverpool Echo's James Pearce, Klopp stressed that his focus remains on Sunday's trip to the Hawthorns and not the Europa League final, saying "in this moment Sunday afternoon is the most important game in the world."
Klopp stressed that he would "find a lineup to win at West Brom," though given the German's rotation throughout midweek and weekend fixtures of late—making eight changes between last weekend's 2-0 win at home to Watford and Wednesday night's 1-1 draw with Chelsea—this approach is likely to continue.
The likes of Connor Randall, Jon Flanagan, Brad Smith, Kevin Stewart, Cameron Brannagan, Pedro Chirivella, Jordon Ibe, Sheyi Ojo and Sergi Canos can be expected to feature.
Predicted Lineups
Despite Pulis' suggestion that he will turn to his youth ranks for Sunday's clash, the 58-year-old is still likely to name a strong lineup to take on the Reds at the Hawthorns.
Ben Foster should continue his spell between the sticks, with Evans, Craig Dawson, Gareth McAuley and Jonas Olsson forming Pulis' first-choice back four, shielded by Argentine defensive midfielder Claudio Yacob.
Joining Yacob in midfield should be Fletcher and Craig Gardner, though Field could hope to take Gardner's place.
McClean's absence could provide Roberts with an opportunity to start, but with Leko already poised to take up his position on the right wing, Saido Berahino could come in on the left, flanking Salomon Rondon.
Ward's injury and a likely rest for No. 1 goalkeeper Simon Mignolet could see the previously exiled Adam Bogdan handed his second league start of the season, after a miserable debut in December's 3-0 defeat away to Watford.
Bodgan may be tasked with organising a makeshift back line, with two of Randall, Flanagan and Smith likely flanking centre-back duo Martin Skrtel and Lucas Leiva.
In midfield, Kevin Stewart should return to the holding role in what could be a three-man midfield, with the 22-year-old joined by Brannagan and Joe Allen.
Canos' availability gives Klopp a strong alternative in attack, and the Spaniard is set to take up a role on the right flank, while Ojo should start on the opposite wing, providing support for midweek goalscorer Christian Benteke.
Likely West Brom XI: Foster; Dawson, McAuley, Olsson, Evans; Yacob, Gardner, Fletcher; Leko, Berahino, Rondon
Likely Liverpool XI: Bogdan; Flanagan, Skrtel, Lucas, Smith; Stewart, Allen, Brannagan; Canos, Ojo, Benteke
Players to Watch
Jonathan Leko
Exciting 17-year-old winger Leko has burst into Pulis' first team in recent weeks, producing a number of impressive performances on the flanks of the Baggies' attack.
Blessed with raw pace and great skill, Leko looks to drive through defences with his direct running style, which has helped create space for the likes of Rondon and McClean at the tail end of 2015/16.
Though still something of a liability in the defensive sector, which could allow Liverpool left-back Smith space to counter on Sunday afternoon, Leko is West Brom's wild card, and this unknown quantity could be key to Pulis' side securing a result against the Reds.
Sergi Canos
Set to line up on Liverpool's right wing on Sunday, 19-year-old former Barcelona youth Canos will look to impress Klopp on his first-team debut.
Canos spent the 2015/16 season on loan with Brentford, scoring seven goals and creating a further five in 38 Championship appearances, slowly making the right-sided role his own at Griffin Park, but with the Bees' campaign over, he has returned to train under Klopp at Liverpool.
Speaking after Wednesday night's draw with Chelsea, as relayed by the club's official website, Klopp hinted that Canos could feature at the Hawthorns, saying "we will see how he feels, how he is."
There is all likelihood that Canos will feel ready to start, given the opportunity to impress Klopp with his pace, power and work ethic ahead of what could be a big 2016/17.
Key Battle
Sheyi Ojo vs. Craig Dawson
Pulis utilised his pre-match press conference to fend off criticism over his style of play, telling reporters, including the Albion Express & Star, that "it’s always been my philosophy to make sure everybody works hard and the shape of the team and organisation."
"You look at my team, you can say it’s got an identity," he later added, and one of the key features of this much-maligned "identity" is the use of four centre-backs across his defensive line—a regular occurrence during his time at Stoke City, now spilling into the Hawthorns this season.
While this allows the Baggies to keep a compact defensive line, the use of out-of-position centre-backs in the full-back roles does make them susceptible to dangerous wide players—such as Liverpool's Ojo.
Ojo is likely to come up against former Rochdale defender Dawson on Sunday afternoon, and with the 18-year-old Klopp's best orthodox winger at this stage, he will be looking to exploit the width of the pitch, ensuring Dawson has a difficult afternoon on his last appearance of 2015/16.
Odds
West Brom: 3/2
Liverpool: 2/1
Draw: 13/5
Odds according to Odds Shark and correct at time of writing.
Ticket Information
For ticket information on all Premier League games visit the official site or go to the ticket page on West Brom's official website.
