Liverpool, a team capable of leading the league with flaws that could unravel it all

Richard Jolly writes Liverpool both impressed and disappointed on Saturday night, relaxing too early and spurning a chance to go top that was worryingly characteristic of this side.

Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp instructs his side during their win over West Brom. Ed Sykes / Action Images / Reuters / October 22, 2016

Liverpool 2-1 West Bromwich Albion

LIV: Mane 20’, Coutinho 35’; WBA: McAuley 81’

Man of the Match: Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool)

The bare facts are that Liverpool have not topped the Premier League table since May 2014 when, until Steven Gerrard slipped against Chelsea and Crystal Palace recovered from 3-0 down to draw, they imagined they were about to win the Premier League.

Two-and-a-half years later, they had a belated chance to return to the summit. It was spurned, not in such dramatic or decisive fashion, but in a way that meant, once again, that Liverpool had cause to rue the late drama fashioned by Tony Pulis’ set-piece specialists.

The Welshman was Palace manager in 2014. In charge of West Bromwich Albion now, his team scored a consolation goal in the most predictable of manners. Pulis’ essentially uncreative sides are packed with six-footers. They usually possess a fine corner-taker. So it was that Chris Brunt provided the delivery and Gareth McAuley the finish. It was the 17th set-piece goal Liverpool have conceded in Jurgen Klopp’s one-year reign. They claimed the points, but not the prize they desired.

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It illustrated that, much as Liverpool have progressed under the German, they retain certain frailties. They dominated against West Brom, ought to have been out of sight and ended up relieved to hold on for victory. They required a win by two goals to overhaul Arsenal. They prevailed by one.

It was a distinctly Kloppian win and not just because there is a suspicion his side struggle when they have to focus on defending. They are better playing on the front foot. They impressed in the shape of Sadio Mane, a Klopp signing, Emre Can, his compatriot and pet project, and Roberto Firmino, the relentless runner who has been installed as the first-choice forward.

After failing to impose himself upon the United game, Can was much improved, driving forward more often and impressing with his passing. He helped break the deadlock. His surge towards the box was something he should have done more often in Monday’s stalemate with Manchester United. Firmino’s run from in to out, taking him to the left wing, was an indication of what he provides as an unorthodox, unselfish striker. He curled in a cross that Mane met with a sidefooted, controlled volley.

In an instant, it highlighted why Daniel Sturridge was dropped. Firmino’s running adds another dimension and others can get the goals. Mane has brought extra incision. It is no coincidence that Liverpool have only failed to score twice this season. Mane missed the first of those, at Burnley, and was below par in the second, against United.

Otherwise, he has offered dynamism and directness. He added an assist to his goal when Liverpool doubled their lead. Adam Lallana’s influence was more indirect but he deserves credit, too. He harried Ben Foster into a rushed clearance that bounced off Darren Fletcher to Mane. The Senegalese fed Philippe Coutinho, who executed such a sharp turn he sent both Craig Dawson and McAuley in the wrong direction, and placed a shot past Foster.

Liverpool ought to have added a third, both before and after McAuley scored. Firmino was profligate, Dejan Lovren unfortunate, Foster excellent and the West Brom defence defiant. Yet the sum total of their attacking efforts was so low their supporters ironically chanted “we’ve had a shot” when Nacer Chadli failed to find the target in the 70th minute.

Soon after, the game was transformed. West Brom had a series of set-pieces. Liverpool threatened to crumble. They showed why they are a team capable of leading the league, and one with the flaws to mean that, even they claimed top spot, they may have certain problems in retaining it.

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