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I left Anfield feeling disappointed and frustrated on Monday night.

We wanted more than a point but when you reflect on that stalemate with Manchester United you realise there were a lot of encouraging signs.

Up against a big rival on a night when we weren't at our best, we never looked like getting beaten.

After eight games and a really tough start to the season, we're right in the mix in fourth place and just two points off the top.

It makes a nice change from being down in seventh or eighth and thinking we've got too much to do.

We'd have loved to have beaten United but looking at the bigger picture we're in a better position than them. There's a good feeling about our team and a belief that there are good things ahead for us under Jurgen Klopp this season.

The timing of the United game wasn't great for us. We were flying before the international break but the gap between matches dented our momentum.

Our preparation wasn't ideal with players coming back from South America and the fact that both Adam Lallana and Gini Wijnaldum weren't fit enough to start.

Lallana and Wijnaldum have done very well in their roles so far this season and you could see how much we missed them, especially in that first half.

The changes certainly affected our fluency and we looked nervous in the opening 20 minutes.

United were the better team at that stage and should have made more of that. It was their opportunity to have a real go at us but that didn't happen because their intention was to defend.

I think you have to ask questions about their approach. They have spent £600million since Alex Ferguson left but still don't go toe to toe with their rivals.

It's not a brand of football I like to see. You expect it from West Brom, not from one of your big rivals.

After Lallana's introduction in the second half we looked like a different team. He's one of our most influential players. The way he presses makes him a catalyst for other players to come to life.

With Lallana on the pitch there was more going on in the final third.

We asked more questions of United and but for two fine saves from David de Gea we would have won the game.

West Brom will offer another important test for the Lovren and Matip partnership

West Brom will have a similar game plan to United at Anfield on Saturday.

They don't have as much quality as United but they will make it very difficult for us.

Tony Pulis' side don't give many goals away. They have been involved in a lot of tight games. It's unlikely to be be a 3-0 or 4-0 win. West Brom don't get battered.

We need to channel the frustration of Monday night into making a fast start. The players should be fresh and the first goal is paramount in a game like this. You can't give them anything to hold on to.

If the early goal doesn't happen then we'll need to be patient as we attempt to break them down.

They won't show much attacking ambition so we need to get bodies forward and try to unsettle them.

If they come through training okay then I'd expect both Lallana and Wijnaldum to return to the starting line up. The balance of the midfield looks better with Jordan Henderson, Wijnaldum and Lallana as the central trio.

West Brom will know that set-pieces is their biggest opportunity to get something.

There will be an aerial bombardment and it will be a good test of the work that Klopp has done on the training ground.

The partnership between Joel Matip and Dejan Lovren is blossoming and this will be another important test for them. The same goes for Loris Karius.

He has looked a bit nervy but he's a confident lad and I'm sure that confidence will continue to grow.

Keep the faith with Daniel Sturridge

Daniel Sturridge's record of 55 goals in 100 games for Liverpool is outstanding.

Okay, he didn't influence the game against United but my message would be: keep the faith.

All strikers go through difficult spells. Confidence is huge for a striker and it's tough when the goals aren't going in for you.

People are questioning again whether Sturridge can adjust and fit Klopp's style but it's very difficult to shine as a striker against a team which is so intent on defending like United were.

Yes, he hasn't scored a Premier League goal so far this season but when he gets one I think we'll see a completely different Sturridge.

Whether he starts against West Brom I'm not sure because Roberto Firmino looks to be the main striker at the moment. But Sturridge's talent is undeniable. He has the kind of natural instinct for finding the net that you can't teach.

The fact that we're not overly reliant on Sturridge this season is a positive but he's still a key member of the squad.