Match ends, Liverpool 1, West Bromwich Albion 1.
LiverpoolLiverpool1West BromWest Bromwich Albion1
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.
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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.
How to play
Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.
Rating range key = Give it up = Pure perfection
Liverpool
Starting XI
Avg
Squad number1Player nameAlissonAverage rating4.53
Squad number66Player nameAlexander-ArnoldAverage rating3.81
Squad number32Player nameMatipAverage rating4.12
- Squad number3Player nameFabinhoAverage rating
4.26
Squad number26Player nameRobertsonAverage rating4.42
- Squad number17Player nameJonesAverage rating
3.41
Squad number14Player nameHendersonAverage rating4.13
Squad number5Player nameWijnaldumAverage rating3.85
Squad number11Player nameMohamed SalahAverage rating3.70
Squad number9Player nameRoberto FirminoAverage rating4.06
Squad number10Player nameManéAverage rating4.65
Substitutes
Avg
Squad number15Player nameOxlade-ChamberlainAverage rating3.67
- Squad number27Player nameOrigiAverage rating
3.31
- Squad number46Player nameR WilliamsAverage rating
3.63
West Bromwich Albion
Starting XI
Avg
- Squad number1Player nameJohnstoneAverage rating
8.14
- Squad number2Player nameFurlongAverage rating
7.59
- Squad number6Player nameAjayiAverage rating
7.95
- Squad number27Player nameO'SheaAverage rating
7.58
- Squad number3Player nameGibbsAverage rating
7.44
- Squad number7Player nameRobinsonAverage rating
7.47
- Squad number10Player namePhillipsAverage rating
7.42
- Squad number19Player nameSawyersAverage rating
7.39
- Squad number18Player nameGallagherAverage rating
7.54
- Squad number11Player nameDianganaAverage rating
7.49
- Squad number29Player nameGrantAverage rating
7.41
Substitutes
Avg
- Squad number12Player nameMatheus PereiraAverage rating
7.51
- Squad number15Player nameAustinAverage rating
7.29
- Squad number20Player nameIvanovicAverage rating
7.17
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
Home TeamLiverpoolAway TeamWest Brom
- Possession
- Home78%
- Away22%
- Shots
- Home17
- Away5
- Shots on Target
- Home2
- Away3
- Corners
- Home8
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home8
- Away5
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Liverpool 1, West Bromwich Albion 1.
Post update
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Grady Diangana.
Post update
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Matt Phillips.
Post update
Offside, West Bromwich Albion. Grady Diangana tries a through ball, but Matheus Pereira is caught offside.
Substitution
Substitution, West Bromwich Albion. Branislav Ivanovic replaces Conor Gallagher.
Post update
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.
Substitution
Substitution, Liverpool. Divock Origi replaces Roberto Firmino.
Post update
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Sam Johnstone.
Post update
Attempt saved. Roberto Firmino (Liverpool) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Post update
Offside, West Bromwich Albion. Romaine Sawyers tries a through ball, but Matheus Pereira is caught offside.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Sadio Mané.
Post update
Attempt missed. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Matheus Pereira.
Substitution
Substitution, Liverpool. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain replaces Curtis Jones.
Goal!
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.
Post update
Corner, West Bromwich Albion. Conceded by Rhys Williams.
Post update
Corner, West Bromwich Albion. Conceded by Andrew Robertson.
Substitution
Substitution, West Bromwich Albion. Charlie Austin replaces Karlan Grant.
Post update
Attempt missed. Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high from a direct free kick.
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Comments
Join the conversation
Liverpool team : "hold my beer"
Imagine how quiet it will be in here today after drawing with the team 2nd FROM BOTTOM.
Mane diving in the box again. Disgraceful!!!!
Did Salah forget to Dive!!
Liverpool made to look average, scraping a draw against relegation candidates.
Well done baggies