View: Big Sam must avoid making huge mistake with West Brom 27y/o in Liverpool clash
West Brom will be without their influential captain Jake Livermore for the trip to Liverpool on Sunday evening in the Premier League.
The Baggies midfield starts his three-game suspension after getting sent-off in the 3-0 defeat against Aston Villa last time out.
Livermore will also miss games against Leeds and Arsenal over this busy period, and it has left a huge question for Sam Allardyce to answer.
Who will fill that gap in midfield?
Romaine Sawyers was used alongside his skipper in that Villa defeat, and there is a serious lack of defensive midfielders in the squad with Sam Field also ruled out.
The Athletic journalist Steve Madeley has suggested that there is a clear candidate for that role sitting in the Albion defence.
“No Livermore tomorrow and no Field, either,” he wrote on his personal Twitter account.
“Fascinating to see what Sam Allardyce and his coaches come up with in the centre of midfield. Ajayi an obvious option but, with the form, he’s been in, would that be too big a loss at centre back?”
That would be a huge mistake.
Ajayi has been phenomenal in defence, and his performance against Manchester City a matter of weeks ago is proof he needs to stay where he is at Anfield.
The 27-year-old made 12 interceptions and 10 clearances according to WyScout, and his pace will be key to stopping the likes of Sadio Mane and Mo Salah.
Ajayi hasn’t been good enough on the ball to warrant a place in midfield, either.
When playing at Anfield, West Brom won’t be expecting to have much of the ball, so when they have it, they have to take advantage.
The 27-year-old has only been accurate with 39.1% of his long passes, and half of his through balls this season – numbers that prove he isn’t good enough at distributing possession, something which will be paramount tomorrow night.
Big Sam has a decision to make, but this is one huge mistake he must avoid.
In other West Brom news, WBA loanee to seek assurances from Allardyce in January
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