West Brom v Liverpool Betting Odds, Tips and Preview

Rodgers and Clarke look for impressive starts at new clubs

Premier League Betting

West Brom V Liverpool
The Baggies surprisingly installed the inexperienced Steve Clarke as their new manager, while Liverpool went with one of the up and rising stars of the managerial world, Brendan Rodgers. Both were mid-table finishers last season in the Premier League, so a strong start would only breed confidence.

West Brom v Liverpool Betting Odds at online bookmaker Bet Victor:
Liverpool 10/11, Draw 13/5, West Brom 3/1

Verdict: A draw may not be too far out of the picture here. Liverpool have drawn their last two opening day fixtures in the Premier League. With the new managers in place, new systems will have to be learnt and the Baggies will be happier that this one is at home to start the season off. Neither side were high scorers last season and with West Brom looking pretty confident through the pre-season while Liverpool were still struggling for goals, there could be a point in this for the home side. Liverpool though have a decent record at the Hawthorns and the Baggies may not have enough up front to grab all three, so a Liverpool -0.75 Asian Handicap for 23/20 at Bet Victor could be good value at the end of the day.

Stat Attack:

  • Liverpool had the worst chance-conversion rate of the entire Premier League last season
  • West Brom conceded the fewest headed goals during their previous campaign
  • Liverpool hit the woodwork 33 times during the Premier League season last season
  • The Baggies conceded the most penalty in the 2011/12 EPL season (9)

Head to Head:
Even as the away side, Liverpool have the supremacy in this head to head battle. They have won on 40% of their visits to the Hawthorns (from 70 matches). West Brom have won 34% of their home games against Liverpool. Since their return to the Premier League, West Brom have struggled badly against Liverpool at home. In seven meetings the Baggies have recorded just one win against the Reds on home soil. They have scored only two and conceded 20 in that run of games. So looking at the stats, Liverpool should pick up three points.

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West Brom v Liverpool Betting Preview:
New managers for both of these sides and Steve Clarke will be the one under less pressure. The former Liverpool assistant manager gets his big chance to shine in full control, and things have gone pretty solidly though pre-season, but mostly playing against lower tiered English sides. The Baggies have grabbed a couple of important signings, notably Romelu Lukaku on loan from Chelsea. The big Belgian striker is looking to prove himself at the highest standard and will have to challenge his way into the side alongside the likes of Peter Odemwingie, Shane Long, Marc-Antoine Fortune and Zoltan Gera. There is quite a well balanced looking side at the Hawthorns and they played some quite neat football last season under Roy Hodgson, at least during the second half of the campaign. What will Clarke bring new to the table? Starting to overturn some poor Premier League history against Liverpool would help.

New Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has to get his side settled quickly, so that they are not trying to play catch up to the top clubs. He has mostly been working with his youngsters and fringe players during the off-season, and while he guided the Reds through a comfortable Europa League qualifier, they still look as if they are going to have to work hard for goals. Lack of goals hurt the Reds last time, but Rodgers has been proactive in bolstering the Reds’ squad. In has come Joe Allen from his former club Swansea and have snapped up winger Oussama Assaidi. He is also chasing a couple more midfielders on loan. Liverpool were fine in possession last season, they didn’t have the patience from the midfielder to carve open clinical chances. So Rodgers will address that, making Liverpool are more intelligent passing and moving side. They will be looking for a strong start and need Luis Suarez in top form early on.