Mohamed Salah looked to spark a late comeback as he halved the deficit with 20 minutes to play, but there was no way beyond Ahmed Hegazi and Ben Foster as the Reds fall short at Anfield. For a third successive season, Liverpool have been eliminated in the fourth round of the FA Cup. Jay Rodriguez equalised for West Brom just 71 seconds after Roberto Firmino gave the Reds the lead, and then scored a second shortly after to give the Baggies the lead. A Joel Matip own goal gifted the visitors a third on the stroke of half-time, after Firmino missed the chance to restore parity from the penalty spot.
Here are the talking points of the match :
1. Liverpool Did Not Take It Long To Get The Lead :
Dreadful mix-up between Evans and Foster, each leaving the ball for one another, allowing Salah to burst through and took it in on goal. He had thwarted by a smart save from Foster, but Firmino followed up on the rebound, chipping a delightful finish in at the far post from 20 yards with Foster well off his line.
2. West Brom Replied Instantly :
Quick, decisive play from the Baggies on the front foot as Brunt picked out Rodriguez, who did well to step inside and cannoned a strike into the top corner from just outside the penalty area. Two goals in less than 90 seconds capped off a thrilling opening to this match on Merseyside, and Liverpool almost made it three as Mane just failed to get the decisive touch on Salah’s cross, with Nyom barely able to clear the threat.
3. From Behind West Brom Took The Lead At Anfield :
And it was barely 10 minutes played at Anfield. Gibbs the provider this time as he produced a delightful assist to pick out Rodriguez, who had his second with a terrifically composed finish at the near post. The Kop End had been left stunned with Rodriguez scoring twice in front of them in a four-minute span. Liverpool’s expensive January transfer for Van Dijk not looking so great at the moment, the Dutchman twice blocked out from getting to Rodriguez by some smart positional play from Hal Robson-Kanu.
4. Penalty Miss Of Firmino :
Following a lengthy review, Livermore was deemed to have fouled Salah in the area, and the Reds had been gifted a way back into this match. Firmino had beaten Foster from the spot, but not the frame of the goal as his effort rattled off the underside of the crossbar and stayed out. This really hadn’t been their night.
5. West Brom Got The Third Goal Just Before Halftime :
VAR was consulted again, but this time it would count. Rodriguez clipped a terrific ball over the top for Dawson, who was proved to be onside following a review, and the defender lashed an effort across the face of goal that somehow found its way through, with Matip inexplicably failing to clear.
6. Liverpool Tried To Make A Come Back :
It had been coming, and finally Liverpool were back in the game. Alexander-Arnold sent in a terrific ball to pick out Firmino, who produced a brilliantly deft touch to tee up Salah, and the forward made no mistake, passing a left-footed strike into the far corner from 10 yards.
