Semi Ajayi scored a dramatic late equaliser against leaders Liverpool to earn struggling West Brom their first point since Sam Allardyce took charge.
Jurgen Klopp’s side looked to be going five points clear at the top of the table when Sadio Mane chested down Joel Matip’s long ball forward and fire past Sam Johnstone.
Liverpool dominated for long periods without adding to their lead but the Baggies improved after the break and equalised in the 83rd minute.
Ajayi leapt high above the home defence to send a header in off the post to spark jubilant celebrations from the away team at Anfield.
West Brom keeper Johnstone made a superb save to deny Roberto Firmino a winner.
Reds frustrated by Baggies
There was a deep sense of frustration at full-time from Liverpool’s players after they dropped league points at Anfield for the first time this season.
Klopp walked to the Kop to acknowledge the 2,000 fans allowed into the ground as the home team headed for the dressing room knowing they had let two points slip.
It has been a monumental 2020 with the Reds ending a 30-year wait for a first title, but this was not the result they wanted in their final home game of 2020.
Klopp’s side dominated the first half, enjoying 84% possession, but were unable to add to a sumptuous finish by Senegal forward Mane.
Their dominance was highlighted by captain Jordan Henderson, who completed 39 more passes (85) than West Brom as a team (46) before half-time.
But the visitors were livelier after the break and, after Liverpool lost defender Joel Matip to injury, the hosts allowed West Brom a way back.
Alisson did well to keep out Karlan Grant after the forward had got the better of Rhys Williams before Ajayi’s equaliser.
Johnstone’s save to keep out Firmino right at the end only added to Liverpool’s frustration, their lead at the top now three points.
Player of the match
JohnstoneSam Johnstone
Liverpool
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Squad number10Player nameManéAverage rating4.65
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Squad number1Player nameAlissonAverage rating4.55
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Squad number26Player nameRobertsonAverage rating4.44
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Squad number3Player nameFabinhoAverage rating
4.28
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Squad number14Player nameHendersonAverage rating4.15
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Squad number32Player nameMatipAverage rating4.14
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Squad number9Player nameRoberto FirminoAverage rating4.07
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Squad number5Player nameWijnaldumAverage rating3.86
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Squad number66Player nameAlexander-ArnoldAverage rating3.82
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Squad number11Player nameMohamed SalahAverage rating3.75
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Squad number15Player nameOxlade-ChamberlainAverage rating3.68
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Squad number46Player nameR WilliamsAverage rating
3.63
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Squad number17Player nameJonesAverage rating
3.41
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Squad number27Player nameOrigiAverage rating
3.31
West Bromwich Albion
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Squad number1Player nameJohnstone
Average rating8.14
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Squad number6Player nameAjayi
Average rating7.93
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Squad number2Player nameFurlong
Average rating7.56
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Squad number27Player nameO’Shea
Average rating7.55
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Squad number18Player nameGallagher
Average rating7.51
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Squad number11Player nameDiangana
Average rating7.47
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Squad number12Player nameMatheus Pereira
Average rating7.46
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Squad number7Player nameRobinson
Average rating7.44
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Squad number3Player nameGibbs
Average rating7.40
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Squad number29Player nameGrant
Average rating7.38
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Squad number10Player namePhillips
Average rating7.37
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Squad number19Player nameSawyers
Average rating7.34
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Squad number15Player nameAustin
Average rating7.24
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Squad number20Player nameIvanovic
Average rating7.11
More to follow.
Line-ups
Liverpool
- 1Alisson
- 66Alexander-Arnold
- 32MatipSubstituted forR Williamsat 60′minutes
- 3Fabinho
- 26Robertson
- 17JonesSubstituted forOxlade-Chamberlainat 83′minutes
- 14Henderson
- 5Wijnaldum
- 11Salah
- 9FirminoSubstituted forOrigiat 90′minutes
- 10Mané
Substitutes
- 7Milner
- 15Oxlade-Chamberlain
- 18Minamino
- 23Shaqiri
- 27Origi
- 46R Williams
- 47Phillips
- 62Kelleher
- 76N Williams
West Brom
- 1Johnstone
- 2Furlong
- 6Ajayi
- 27O’SheaBooked at 56mins
- 3Gibbs
- 7RobinsonSubstituted forCosta Pereiraat 73′minutes
- 10Phillips
- 19Sawyers
- 18GallagherSubstituted forIvanovicat 90+1′minutes
- 11Diangana
- 29GrantSubstituted forAustinat 78′minutes
Substitutes
- 12Costa Pereira
- 13Grosicki
- 15Austin
- 16Harper
- 17Krovinovic
- 20Ivanovic
- 22Peltier
- 24Kipré
- 25Button
- Referee:
- Kevin Friend
- Attendance:
- 2,000
Match Stats
Live Text
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Match ends, Liverpool 1, West Bromwich Albion 1.
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Second Half ends, Liverpool 1, West Bromwich Albion 1.
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Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Grady Diangana.
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Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Matt Phillips.
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Offside, West Bromwich Albion. Grady Diangana tries a through ball, but Matheus Pereira is caught offside.
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Substitution, West Bromwich Albion. Branislav Ivanovic replaces Conor Gallagher.
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Attempt missed. Rhys Williams (Liverpool) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Trent Alexander-Arnold with a cross following a corner.
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Substitution, Liverpool. Divock Origi replaces Roberto Firmino.
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Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Sam Johnstone.
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Attempt saved. Roberto Firmino (Liverpool) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
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Offside, West Bromwich Albion. Romaine Sawyers tries a through ball, but Matheus Pereira is caught offside.
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Attempt blocked. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Sadio Mané.
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Attempt missed. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right following a corner.
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Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Matheus Pereira.
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Substitution, Liverpool. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain replaces Curtis Jones.
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Goal! Liverpool 1, West Bromwich Albion 1. Semi Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion) header from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Matheus Pereira with a cross following a corner.
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Corner, West Bromwich Albion. Conceded by Rhys Williams.
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Corner, West Bromwich Albion. Conceded by Andrew Robertson.
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Substitution, West Bromwich Albion. Charlie Austin replaces Karlan Grant.
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Attempt missed. Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high from a direct free kick.
