View: Huge performance needed by West Brom senior star to contain impressive Reading duo
If West Brom want to win their first game away at Reading since 1995 then they are going to have to rely on a huge performance from captain Jake Livermore.
Slaven Bilic’s side travel to the Madejski on Wednesday in search of a third consecutive win that could take them seven points clear at the top of the Championship table if Fulham lose against Millwall.
However Albion fans are well aware of their team’s woeful record against the Royals in the last couple of decades, with them winning just three of their last 11 encounters with the Berkshire club.
If the Baggies want to put an end to their barren run away at Reading then they need to find a way to contain impressive midfielders Ovie Ejaria and John Swift.
Both players have been brilliant for the Royals this season.
According to stats by WhoScord, Swift has averaged more key passes per Championship match than any other player this season [2.7] while no player has averaged more dribbles per appearance than Ejaria [3.3].
West Brom are going to have to find a way to stop these two midfielders from creating chances on Wednesday night and that is going to depend a lot on how Livermore can perform.
Livermore’s form has improved a lot in the last couple of matches and fans flocked to Twitter at the weekend to hail the midfielder for his display against Millwall.
According to WhoScored, out of players with 10 or more Championship starts for West Brom this season, only Nathan Ferguson [2.4] has averaged more tackles per match than Livermore [1.9].
Worryingly, no one in the Baggies squad has been dribbled past more times per game than Livermore [1.2] and he has also been responsible for more fouls than any other Albion player this term [53].
Livermore has improved a lot under Bilic’s leadership and overall, it was perhaps been his best season in West Brom’s colours.
But you get the feeling that he could have one of his biggest tests in the Championship season on Wednesday when he is tasked with dealing with Swift and Ejaria.
They are two players who can cut open the best defences in the league when they are on form but hopefully, a defensive midfielder with seven caps for England and 178 Premier League appearances to his name can be their downfall.
In other West Brom news, Gary Rowett has been raving about these three Albion stars.