Sam Allardyce has suggested to Sky Sports that Liverpool aren’t very good at defending long-balls into the box.
Liverpool ran out 2-1 winners over Allardyce’s West Bromwich Albion side, but they scored their winner in dramatic circumstances.
West Brom had held firm right up until the last moments, when Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson headed home from a corner to seal a vital three points.
The Baggies have proven a tough opponent for Liverpool to come up against this term.
And Allardyce believes his side have had such success as he has been able to target a big weakness of Jurgen Klopp’s men.
“We played against a Liverpool side where we did our utmost to expose their weaknesses,” Allardyce said.
“We do that in a basic fashion. We don’t try and play out the back as Liverpool are the highest pressing team in the league, so why even try?
“So we play knock downs and to get balls in behind them, they’re not very good at that.
“So we did that and that saw us three chances today. In fact Robson Kanu could have had a hat-trick on flick ons and balls in behind their defenders because we all know that they play the high line.”
Liverpool did look shaky at times, but with an inexperienced pairing of Nathaniel Phillips and Rhys Williams at the back, that is hardly surprising.
West Brom will surely be frustrated with their failure to hold on to a point, but Liverpool’s win keeps their top four hopes alive.
The Reds now face two remaining games, and if they win them both, they look like favourites to have Champions League football back at Anfield again next season.
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