West Brom 3-2 Birmingham: Jake Livermore strikes to give Baggies all three points in five-goal thriller

West Brom 3-2 Birmingham: Jake Livermore strikes to give Baggies all three points in five-goal thriller
West Brom kept their automatic promotion hopes alive with a pulsating 3-2 Sky Bet Championship victory against Birmingham at The Hawthorns.Albion twice trailed before Jake Livermore grabbed their winner 16 minutes from time to cut the gap to second-placed Sheffield United to four points, and hand City a fifth successive defeat.3

Livermore scores with a superb strike

Gary Gardner gave Birmingham the lead after seven minutes in City’s first game since they were deducted nine points for breaching the Football League’s financial guidelines.Albion equalised for the first time through Dwight Gayle’s 17th goal of the season in the 47th minute before Lukas Jutkiewicz ended a four-month goal drought to regain the lead for the visitors 12 minutes later.It was short-lived as Jay Rodriguez drew Albion level again five minutes later from the penalty spot before Livermore struck the matchwinner. The points deduction has plunged Birmingham into a relegation battle, with this latest loss leaving them five points clear of the drop zone ahead of the weekend fixtures involving their rivals.In contrast, Albion have won all three of their games under caretaker manager Jimmy Shan, with a play-off place almost certainly on the cards.Yet it was Birmingham who made a dream start, forcing three corners in quick succession, and it was from the third of those that they grabbed the opener, with Gardner heading home Connor Mahoney’s delivery from 12 yards.Birmingham remained the more threatening side, with Albion requiring a last-ditch block from Ahmed Hegazi to deny Che Adams.3

Birmingham are without a win in five matches

Sam Johnstone saved a Jutkiewicz header to keep them in touch at the break.After riding their luck, Albion cashed in immediately at the start of the second-half.Blues full-back Kristian Pedersen gave away a free-kick when he pulled back Mason Holgate, allowing Albion captain Chris Brunt to provide a perfect delivery for Gayle to rise in a crowded goalmouth to steer a header just inside the near post.If Albion thought they would take control, battling Birmingham had other ideas as they again struck from a corner.3

Rodriguez equalises from the spot

Another Mahoney delivery picked out Jutkiewicz at the back post to score his 11th goal of the season and first in 22 games.After falling behind again, Albion’s response was a lot swifter second time around.When full-back Conor Townsend was brought down on the edge of the area by Mahoney, leading to referee David Webb pointing to the spot, Rodriguez comfortably converted the penalty.With Albion now dominant, Livermore scored what proved to be the winner, letting fly with a low drive after Michael Morrison and Dean had failed to clear a Gayle cross.

---

Working.com - Canada's most comprehensive job search engine. Find your dream job today!
Driving - New and Used Car Reviews, Comparisons and News

---

Scottish Premier League; Power Ranking Every NHL Team by Fanbase. the Blackhawks ranked averagely among other teams. Still, the Blackhawks fanbase ranks pretty high in terms of dedication
Ranking the 12 Most Loyal Soccer Fanbases | Bleacher Report

---

Marko Arnautovic has rubbished rumours about a move away from West Ham United, despite claims he is set to leave the club in the near future. The Austria international has transformed himself in east London, going from a maverick winger at Stoke City to a consistent goal scorer in the capital.
Transfer news and football gossip: Newcastle in for Arsenal

---

GENEVA (AP) — Leaders of the top European leagues and clubs will hold talks next month on Champions League reforms that could cause a split at the upper level of soccer management. The European Leagues group said Friday it will meet the European Club Association on May 6-7 in Madrid, then head to UEFA headquarters in Switzerland the next day.
European football superpowers to propose radical Champions

---

CHELSEA are in a desperate race against time to complete the signing of Gonzalo Higuain so he can feature in the Carabao Cup semi-final against Tottenham. Higuain has landed in the UK ahead of his loan move to Stamford Bridge from Juventus having taken a flight from Milan first thing this morning.
Gonzalo Higuain flies in with Chelsea in desperate race to

---

Sergio Aguero: Manchester City striker has now equalled the

---

Who makes it into alternative Premier League XI, not including top six players? The only team-mate he has failed to outperform in the rankings is James Maddison. The 22-year-old has impressed

---

Virgil van Dijk has weighed in on Liverpool team-mate Dejan Lovren's feud with Sergio Ramos, describing the Real Madrid captain as "not my type of defender". Lovren mocked Ramos in the lead up to
Liverpool star Virgil Van Dijk on Sergio Ramos: 'He's not the

---

Richarlison has revealed how feeling "part of the Everton family" has been key to his international breakthrough as he explained "being at the Club is almost like being back home in Brazil". The 22-year-old - who had not won a senior cap when he joined the Blues from Watford last summer - hit his fifth goal in 10 appearances for the five-time
Chelsea looking at Richarlison - Soccer News

---

Aston Villa 2-1 West Brom LIVE REACTION: Latest action and commentary from the Championship play-off clash WEST BROM make the short trip to Aston Villa in what is expected to be a fierce

---

German Midfielder aims at Jessie Lingard after Arsenal defeated the Red Devils 2-0. The Arsenal midfielder couldn't help but poke fun at the Manchester United forward on Sunday evening. Mesut Ozil poked fun at Jesse Lingard following Arsenal's 2-0 win over Manchester United on Sunday and Gunners fans loved it.
Jesse Lingard transfer news | English Premier League Jesse

---