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West Brom Fan View: Jake Livermore already proving his worth

After completing his £10 million move to West Brom on 20th January, Baggies fans have been made to wait for Jake Livermore to make his full debut for the club. He came on for the final 20 minutes against Sunderland, just a day after completing his move, but made his first start this weekend against Stoke City, and what a debut it was.

Starting in the place of Claudio Yacob, who missed the game due to illness, Livermore was excellent. He looked tidy and composed on the ball, venturing forward when he could and generally controlling the game from deep. He showed some nice touches, evading tackles with quick feet and producing some impressive passes, but also showed his competence in the defensive side of the game too. It was a true man of the match display.

After watching Livermore’s performance, it struck me that we actually haven’t had a genuine deep-lying playmaker in midfield for a number of years, someone who can pick apart oppositions defences or drive forward from deep. Arguably, we haven’t had anyone who can do that role since Graham Dorrans left in February 2015.

But there’s more to him than that, he’s more than capable in defensive situations, having played at centre-back for Hull a number of times. He’s got all the attributes you need to be a great all-round midfielder for the Baggies.

Although he started next to Darren Fletcher on Saturday, it could be argued that Livermore may be even more effective when playing with Yacob, as that will allow the ex-Spurs man a bit more creative freedom to drive forward knowing he has protection behind.

For all of Fletcher’s qualities, of which he has many, he’s shown that passing isn’t one of his best, so Livermore adds a lot more to the team in an offensive aspect. In fact, with the ex-Man Utd midfielder turning 33 on the 1st of February, Livermore may just be a perfect long-term replacement in that position.

I’d also like to mention the performance of Nacer Chadli, who has taken a while to get back to his pre-injury form after his knee operation, but I thought he looked back to his scintillating best on Saturday, providing a gorgeous through-ball to set up James Morrison’s goal.

The win against Stoke made it six wins out of the last seven games at the Hawthorns, with the Albion now five points clear in 8th position, this is some season we’re having!

Boing Boing!