Adam Lallana – 2 goals & 1 assist for the perfect night / Image via bleacherreport.com
Liverpool got back to winning ways in style at Middlesbrough on Wednesday night.
Jurgen Klopp’s secured a big-margin win and kept a clean sheet against Aitor Karanka’s men to move back to second place in the Premier League standings.
Read our full match report below:
Form Guide & Team News
The home side headed into the Wednesday night’s match against Liverpool looking to make a move away from the relegation zone. Karanka’s men remain within the three-point distance from the dropping line however seeing them notch back-to-back Premier League defeats for the first time since September.
Middlesbrough managed did not make many changes to his starting line-up, whereas the most important one occurred in the attack with Spanish striker Alvaro Negredo returning to the fold, having previously missed the defeat to Southampton last week.
Having successfully brushed off his hamstring problem, Negredo joined Fischer upfront.
Liverpool on the other side were looking for a chance to reclaim the second spot in the standings, and the win was just big enough for Jurgen Klopp’s men to leapfrog the stuttering Arsenal who got beaten by Everton on Tuesday.
Jurgen Klopp made several changes to his starting XI with Simon Mignolet stepping in to replace under-pressure Lorius Karius, following young German’s series of costly blunders. In-form Joel Matip who has been widely impressive in his form, despite several blunders of his own was left out of the team with the reported foot problem.
Ragnar Clavan stepped in to replace him as the Estonian international gained his rare start at Liverpool this season.
First Half
Middlesbrough have most certainly demonstrated they are no pushovers in the Premier League this season and Aitor Karanka’s men headed bravely into the match against exciting Liverpool.
A couple of minutes of home side’s pressure were changed for a dominant spell from the away team, with Liverpool seeing more of the ball and attempting to break the deadlock through Adam Lallana, who was the most prominent player for the visiting team on the occasion.
Klopp’s men failed to take full advantage of their possession play and it was Middlesbrough who could have gotten their foot upfront after 18 minutes when Fabio fired one from long range, only to hit the ball straight into Simon Mignolet.
The hosts had another attempt on goal five minutes later when Gibson flew in the air to head to a free kick, only to see his nod comfortably clutched by Mignolet.
Karanka’s men ultimately got punished for their failed opportunities when Adam Lallana latched on to Clyne’s whipping cross into the area. The England winger made a perfect run to the cross and fired a powerful header past the helpless Valdes.
Boro attempted to find the equaliser and ended up stretching up a bit, which in the end almost cost them the second conceded goal.
Liverpool got inches away from doubling their lead three minutes from time in the first half as Mane’s drilled shot bounced back off the post to Origi, whose follow-up ended hitting the side-netting.
Second Half
We haven’t seen the same vigour from the home side in the second half, as Aitor Karanka’s men came out of the tunnel a completely inapt to deal with invigorated Liverpool.
Jurgen Klopp’s men made their intentions clear straight from the off after the interval as Mane raced away from his marker down the right channel, but failed to put the ball past Victor Valdes.
Minute later and the same player was at it again, but Mane was the provider this time as he fired a cross to Firmino whose header went wide off the Boro’s goal.
It was only a matter of time before Liverpool doubled the lead and it happened at the hour mark when Liverpool scored a fantastic team goal. Mane lead the line with a couple of quick passes before he played the ball to Lallana on the right for a first0time pass into the middle of the box for Origi to tap it in on his 50th appearance in the league and Cups for Liverpool.
Eight minutes later and Liverpool got their desired third goal which allowed them to go in front of Arsenal in the standings. The Red reclaimed the second spot in the standings with yet another goal from Adam Lallana, who finished the game with two goals and an assist next to his name.
Mane provided the ball from the right, but Firmino should be commended for his off-ball movement as the Brazilian opened the space for his teammate by leading the Boro defenders away from the England international.
Following their third of the night, Liverpool slowed down the tempo of the game winding down the clock to claim a much-needed victory that puts them one place above Arsenal and within six-point distance from leaders Chelsea.
Statistical Overview
- Liverpool dominated possession with 64% to Boro’s 36%
- Reds made 15 goal attempts to 8 from the hosts
- Lallana has been involved in all 3 goals (2G & 1A)
- Liverpool recorded pass accuracy of 88%
- Boro notched back-to-back defeats for the 1st time since September
MIDDLESBROUGH: Valdes 6.5 – Barragan 6.5, Chambers 6, Gibson 6.5, Fabio 6.5 – Forshaw 6.5, Clayton 6 (Leadbitter 6), de Roon 6.5 – Traore 7, Negredo 6.5 (Rhodes 6), Fischer 6 (Downing 6)
Unused subs: Espinosa, Guzan, Nsue, Nugent.
LIVERPOOL: Mignolet 7 – Clyne 7, Lovren 7, Klavan 7, Milner 7.5 – Wijnaldum 6.5 (Ejaria 6), Henderson 7, Lallana 8.5 (Lucas 6) – Mane 7.5, Origi 7 (Alexander-Arnold -), Firmino 7
Unused subs: Karius, Moreno, Stewart, Woodburn.
REFEREE: Jonathan Moss
Other results this evening
Sunderland 0-1 Chelsea
West Ham 1-0 Burnley
Crystal Palace 1-2 Manchester United
Manchester City 2-0 Watford
Stoke City 0-0 Southampton
Tottenham 3-0 Hull City
WBA 3-1 Swansea
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