Kevin Phillips: Jake Livermore experience invaluable as West Brom trigger new contract

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 insisted that West Brom were right to trigger the clause for an extra year on Jake Livermore’s current contract.

The ex-Baggies talisman believes the experience of the captain will be “invaluable” whether he is playing or not next season.

Birmingham Mail shared the contract latest this week, with Livermore now sticking around for the 2022/23 season.

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“I think his experience, not just on the pitch but off it at the club when you’re having a rough time you look to draw on the experienced players,” he exclusively to West Brom News.

“You don’t want to always rely on the coaches, sometimes players have to take responsibility, and when you have that experience like Jake, it’s invaluable sometimes.

“Of course, he is still a good player whether he plays the number of games he would like, he is still invaluable.”

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Smart.

Keeping the experience of Livermore around will be smart.

Even if it sees him step out of the first-team spotlight more gradually next season and into a coaching role, it wouldn’t be the worst.

Since Steve Bruce arrived and switched to a midfield three, Livermore has improved significantly, and that has to be the way forward.

The skipper knows what it takes to succeed, and if promotion doesn’t happen this season, he has to make sure it does next.

In other West Brom news, Steve Bruce has held talks over new Baggies signing since arriving with a work permit update shared

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