Exclusive: West Brom player tipped to earn first start in three weeks v Sheff Utd
We’re delighted to welcome former West Brom striker Kevin Phillips as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at The Hawthorns…
Kevin Phillips has tipped Slaven Bilic to bring West Brom captain Jake Livermore back into his starting line-up against Sheffield United on Saturday.
Livermore, 31, has not played since the 1-0 defeat to Tottenham on November 8 due to a positive COVID-19 test before the trip to Manchester United last weekend.
According to BBC Sport, Livermore has completed his period in self-isolation but one of him or Kieran Gibbs will miss the action at The Hawthorns this weekend due to not feeling 100 per cent. Gibbs also tested positive for the coronavirus.
If Livermore is the fit one out of the two then Phillips is adamant the ex-Hull midfielder will start for Albion against the Blades with one of Conor Gallagher of Romaine Sawyers missing out.
“He’s been a bit of a stalwart for the side. I’d say he’d come back in,” Phillips told West Brom News when asked if Livermore could replace Gallagher or Sawyers.
“Sometimes when you bring a player in with experience, they struggle to get around on the pitch but Jake can still do a job and can still run a football match.
“In this type of game, with his experience, I would imagine he’ll come back in.”
If Livermore does come back in then it will more than likely be Sawyers who is dropped as he’s the player who originally replaced the 31-year-old for the game at Old Trafford last week.
However, after how well West Brom played last weekend despite losing 1-0, it would be harsh of Bilic to make any changes as every player deserves another game in the starting line-up.
We wouldn’t be shocked if Bilic goes unchanged against Sheffield United but he has played with a back-four against some teams already this season.
If that happens then it could mean Livermore will start and Gallagher and Sawyers could start too.
In other West Brom news, the statue of Tony Brown has been removed from The Hawthorns in mysterious circumstances.
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