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Match Analysis: West Bromwich Albion 1-1 Liverpool

Sports Mole reflects on the Premier League draw between West Bromwich Albion and Liverpool.

Former Everton striker Victor Anichebe capitalised on Kolo Toure's wayward pass to earn West Bromwich Albion a point against Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday.

The Reds took the lead before half time when Luis Suarez's cross-cum-shot was poked home at the back post by his strike partner Daniel Sturridge.

West Brom stepped it up in the second period and it was substitute Anichebe who struck the leveller, collecting Toure's catastrophic pass across the area and firing into the bottom corner.

Here, Sports Mole dissects the action at The Hawthorns.

Match statistics

West Brom
Shots: 12
On target: 4
Possession: 50%
Corners: 3
Fouls: 13

Liverpool
Shots: 12
On target:3
Possession: 50%
Corners: 4
Fouls: 15

Was the result fair?

Yes. Liverpool just about deserved their lead in what was a first half of few chances. West Brom responded superbly after the interval and although their equaliser was extremely fortunate, their display certainly warranted a goal. As you can see from the stats above, it was a very even game.

West Brom's performance

He may still be winless since taking charge of West Brom, but Pepe Mel will be delighted by their second-half comeback against one of the top-four contenders. The Baggies were limp in the first half but came back into the game superbly after the break. Anichebe had only been on the field for three minutes when he pounced on Toure's pass and fired low into the corner. Some impact! The Baggies could have scored before that, but Gareth McAuley's header was somehow kept out by Simon Mignolet, who reacted so quickly to palm away - one of the best saves of the season. West Brom have an inviting run of games coming up and Mel will be confident that he can get a win soon.

Liverpool's performance

Liverpool came into this game on the back of a demolition job of Merseyside rivals Everton but never really got going today. Top scorer Suarez may have set up the goal but he had one of his quietest games for a while. The one opening that he had was stopped by the legs of Ben Foster - another top save. Defensively, the Reds looked pretty solid and Toure's clanger is just one of those things that manager Brendan Rodgers could never account for. Once West Brom had levelled, one would have expected the visitors to press for a winner, but it didn't look like coming in the final stages.

Sports Mole's man of the match

Raheem Sterling: The brightest spark came from the Liverpool wing and Sterling. He terrorised Liam Ridgewell with his pace and will have impressed England manager Roy Hodgson, who was watching in the stands.

Biggest gaffe

A real 'UH OH!' moment from Toure. He might not have seen Anichebe, but he should have never played the pass anyway. It's one of the first things you are taught to never pass across your own area, and Toure paid the ultimate price for doing so.

Referee performance

Kevin Friend dished out six yellow cards in a bitty game. He didn't have many tough calls to make, but his assistant got it right by awarding Liverpool's goal as Sturridge was level when Suarez curled the ball over.

What next?

Liverpool: Next up for the Reds is a visit from high-flying Arsenal next Saturday lunchtime.

West Brom: The Baggies, meanwhile, go to Crystal Palace in a big bottom-half game in six days.

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West Bromwich Albion's Nigerian forward Victor Anichebe celebrates after scoring the equalising goal during the English Premier League football match between West Bromwich Albion and Liverpool at The Hawthorns in West Bromwich, central England, on Februar
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