Semi Ajayi netted his first-ever Premier League goal as he struck late to earn struggling West Bromwich Albion a 1-1 draw away to Liverpool on Sunday, Completesports.com reports.
Ajayi scored with eight minutes remaining in the game to cancel out Sadio Mane’s opener for the Premier League champions.
The Super Eagles defender rose highest to head home a whipped in cross to level the score.
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Liverpool took the lead in the 12th minute as a clipped straight through ball picked out Mane, who cushioned the ball down with his chest before letting fly a first-time volley into the corner.
The Reds were hit with another defensive setback as Joel Matip sustained a groin injury and was replaced by Rhys Williams
Despite the surprise draw Liverpool still remain top in the league table on 32 points just three points ahead of Everton.
For West Brom, they are still in the drop zone in 19th position on eight points.
By James Agberebi
9 Comments
A great display from Ajayi. Having a great performance in the defence and scoring against Liverpool and Man city is not a walk in the park.
Ajayi, Keep your head-up
Spot on, Larry.
This kind of performance does not go unnoticed. A center back that can keep Sadio Mane at bay will attract the interest of big clubs around Europe, especially now that quality center backs are in short supply. Consistent displays of this type, and I won’t be surprised if a big club comes calling for his services.
This is why I refuse to judge our players based on their performances on our poor pitches. On a good pitch, Ajayi and co will perform wonders. We continue to see evidence of this fact time and time again.
With the likes of Balogun, Ekong, Ajayi, Akpoguma, Awaziem, and hopefully Adarabioyo joining the fold soon, we are blessed with world class center backs. All are good enough to start. We need to achieve this kind of depth in the midfield, wings, attack, and other departments. This is how you build a team that can challenge for titles. Squad depth is the key.
Highly impressed by AJAYI. The Most consistent defender in the Super Eagles no doubt playing at a Top Football League – EPL – week in week out and churning out good performances. His deflected shot against Man City gave his team the only goal while he kept Liverpool attack at Bay and also scored a goal. Semi AJAYI is becoming big!
Keep working hard boy.
Well done Ajayi, you may not be my favourite defender in the Super Eagles set up but I cant deny your good performance. Your quickly establishing yourself as a goal scoring defender. In the championship you scored goals aplenty and now your in the premiership and the trend continues. Based on your performance your up there in terms of rating as a defender. I just hope your team escapes being relegated.
Based on current form, Adarabioyo and Semi Ajayi should be the first choice centerback pair for the Eagles. They both play regularly for premiership teams and apply themselves adequately. Leon Balogun, though plays semi-regularly for Rangers, is in a second-rated league. The same can be said for Awaziem. The cheek of it, Troost-Ekong is not regular in a Championship side. Hence, I consider it a travesty for him to even be named in a squad never mind starting games. Akpoguma is no longer a regular at Hoffenheim while Omeruo plays in the second division in Spain.
@Sunny, well-said.
Great goal, great performance for big strong reliable Ajayi. Beautiful display from the Baggies and big result too. Quite remarkable to see Ajayi producing such a unforgettable feat with a goal against a top side, Liverpool after such an imperial performance weeks ago against Manchester City at Ethiad, where they were forced to a draw through Ajayi’s deflected shot. With these performances, Ajayi is fast building his goal scoring reputation in the elite division, the feat which made him a household name in the Championship as a goal scoring defender.
Ajayi just spoil my mood yesterday, walahi. Happy for him, but I wish his goal was in their last or next game. West Brom was supposed to be a walkover. It seems the Alardyce hoodoo continues.
Chai humans ooh…
oga kel we dey happy say our boy is doing well and you are calculating your gain if he had not score, mmh….
Na joke sha.
I’m really happy for semi, he should keep it up, Super Eagles is not any body’s father property, we only want the best in any given time to represent us.
So far your performance has earned you a starting berth.
I hail all the guys in the house who have been contributing and keeping here busy, we read all your comments even though some of us didn’t respond.
I greet una.