West Bromwich Albion Buildup: Irvine Envies Reds, Gamboa Won’t be Constrained and Berahino is all Grown Up

With the shock 1-0 loss to FC Basel in the Champions League last night still resonating loudly, Liverpool have very little time to re-focus ahead of this weekend’s return to Premier League action.

Following their previous foray into Europe — the unconvincing 2-1 win over Bulgarian minnows PFC Ludogrets — they ended up losing out to West Ham United at the Boleyn Ground in a match where the hosts were just as good as their visitors were bad. Following last night’s performance in Switzerland there’s little evidence to believe that Saturday’s meeting with West Bromwich Albion will be any different, and though that would suit Baggies boss Alan Irvine just fine, the former Everton manager did admit that he’s a tad bit envious of that.

“It’s something that is obviously a consideration. Does it make it harder for them to play a European game on a Wednesday night before playing us on a Saturday? I would have thought it probably does” said Irvine when asked if the Reds exertions on the continent midweek will play a part in their meeting this weekend. “We have more time to prepare for the game against Liverpool than they have to prepare for the game against us. But I think we would love to be in their position, going and playing in the Champions League. It’s the price you have to pay if you are going to be a top team.”

The Reds didn’t look like anything resembling a top team last night as the Swiss side continued their good run of form against English opposition. Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur all met similar fates against Paulo Sousa’s side in recent memory and the Anfield outfit was no different. With their back-line as suspect as ever, there’s no question that the battle cry will be one of “attack” come Saturday, and with their hosts looking particularly exposed down the flanks, Costa Rican fullback Cristian Gamboa is sure to play an important role.

“I won’t talk to him about reining in his attacking instincts, that’s one of the reasons I signed him. He can keep doing that at Anfield, that’s what he does, that’s what he’s really good at. He was brought here to do exactly that, fly up and down that wing,” Irvine said of the pacey defender. “He has got fantastic energy and I love full-backs who can run up and down all day – that’s brilliant. The good thing about Cristian is, yes, he does run really quickly forward but he also runs really quickly backwards.”

Their problems defending aside, Liverpool have also been facing challenges going forward as well and have scored only one more goal than the Baggies so far this season. Although West Brom isn’t exactly cruising, for the time being anyway, they do boast the top scoring Englishman in the league. The safe money at the beginning of the season would have been to stake a hefty wager on Reds pair Daniel Sturridge or Raheem Sterling taking up that particular mantle, but it’s been Baggies youngster Saido Berahino that’s covered the spread with a double against Burnley last weekend boosting him to five goals in all competitions.

“I’ve grown up 100 per cent since last season. You mature quicker once you realise you are playing a man’s game and you have the senior lads that help you along with it. I would say maybe I learned that the harsh way. But I don’t regret any of it, it has made me who I am, so I just look forward” said the 21-year old striker, reflecting on the personal problems that catapulted him so spectacularly into the tabloid press. “The first day the new manager was in charge he had a chat with me and made it clear his door would always be open and, since then, I’ve loved working with him. He has brought that self-belief back into me. I just want to enjoy it and express myself. You listen to his tactics and game plan and the rest is up to you to go out and perform.”

A bit of self-belief and a willingness to take on the responsibility to perform at your highest level can do wonders for a player. I’m sure there’s one of two people in the Liverpool set-up right now that would do well to take those words to heart.

–Steven