22nd April, 2012
Liverpool’s woes in the Barclays Premier League continued on Sunday as they slumped to a 1-0 defeat at home to West Bromwich Albion, with the only goal scored by Nigerian Peter. Osaze Odemwingie.
It was a form of sweet revenge for West Brom manager Roy Hodgson, who was sacked from his post as the Reds’ manager last season, as he guided the Baggies to their first win at Anfield since 1965.
Liverpool should have opened scoring on 10 minutes when Luis Suarez set up Dirk Kuyt with a great shooting chance on the right side of the penalty area, but the Dutchman pulled his effort wide of the far post.
Fourteen minutes later Suarez himself had a shot at goal which was well saved by goalkeeper Ben Foster, while Maxi Rodriguez shot over the bar a few seconds later.
West Brom rarely threatened the home side’s goal in the first half, though Liam Ridgewell did force Pepe Reina back from his suspension – into a good point-blank save when he got an effort on target from a corner kick.
Liverpool twice hit the woodwork early in the second half, with Jordan Henderson rattling the bar with a 20-yard effort on 50 minutes, while Kuyt saw a shot come back off the post on the hour mark.
The hosts continued to press forward and it seemed inevitable that they would eventually open the scoring, but they were hit with a sucker punch from the Baggies on 75 minutes when Osaze turned home a cross from Youssouf Mulumbu to make it 1-0 to the visitors.
Kenny Dalglish’s team were unable to find an equaliser in what remained of the match, meaning they have lost seven of their last nine Premier League matches.