West Brom 1 Liverpool 2 - Report

The Baggies, whose relegation to the Championship was confirmed last weekend, took a first-half lead against Jurgen Klopp's side thanks to an excellent finish from Hal Robson-Kanu.

Liverpool equalised through Mo Salah. But while they went on to dominate possession, they struggled to break down the Baggies who defended brilliantly throughout.

After the interval, a hugely controversial moment involving VAR arguably cost Sam Allardyce's the win.

From a corner, Kyle Bartley flicked in a header from Semi Ajayi.

But the goal was disallowed due to Matt Phillips being stood in an offside position - despite it not looking as though the winger was interfering with play.

Needing a goal to keep alive their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League, Liverpool pushed for a winner in the closing stages.

Trent Alexander Arnold should have won but fired over with minutes to spare.

But with seconds to go, Liverpool did win it in bizarre circumstances.

Having to throw the kitchen sink at it, the visitors sent Alisson forward for a corner.

And he met Alexander-Arnold's delivery with a brilliant header that flew into the corner.

Report

Albion entered the game with the future of Allardyce still very much up in the air.

At his pre-match press conference on Friday, the boss said he would confirm whether or not he is staying at the club before the final game of the campaign at Leeds.

But his quotes and overall demeanour couldn't help but make you feel he is likely to leave.

That evening, though, the 66-year-old was in attendance as Albion's under-18s took on Villa in the FA Youth Cup.

And his team selection here also implied the boss has one eye on the future with Allardyce opting to drop loanees Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Mbaye Diagne.

Instead, Grady Diangana came into the side for his first start since January, while Hal Robson-Kanu started a league match for the first time this season.

Lining up in a 4-4-1-1 formation, Matt Phillips started on the right of midfield with Diangana on the left.

Matheus Pereira operated in the number 10 role just behind Robson-Kanu.

Liverpool, who beat Manchester United on Thursday, also lined up in a 4-3-3 formation.

Roberto Firmino was the central striker with Saido Mane on the left and Salah on the right.

Klopp's men entered the game knowing that - realistically - they had to win it to keep alive their hopes of finishing in the top four.

But it was Albion who played with a greater level of control in the opening 20 minutes.

In their two banks of four, Allardyce's side looked organised. But they were also willing to throw bodies whenever in possession.

And that positivity was rewarded when they opened the scoring.

A lovely ball from Pereira saw Robson-Kanu charge through on goal.

And he then entered the box before exquisitely curling the ball into the far corner and beyond the reach of Allison.

Liverpool responded to the setback well.

Thiago cut the ball back to Mane who fired wide from 10-yards when he really should have scored.

The Baggies then had to produce some last-ditch defending to scramble clear a corner.

But when Alexander-Arnold lashed a strike high and wide on the half-hour mark, you could sense the visitors were more and more frustrated with each passing minute.

Just moments later, though, they were level when Diangana's pass to Bartley was intercepted by Mane.

Whether the pass was a poor one or the centre-back was slow to react, that allowed the Mail international to find Salah.

And from the edge of the box, he brilliantly curled the ball home.

Just seconds later the visitors should have had a second when Mane's backheel hit Okay Yokuslu with the ball then falling kindly for Firmino.

From just inside the area, the Brazilian produced a delicious strike that looked destined to find the top corner.

But instead, it crashed against the post with the Baggies then able to clear.

Suddenly the game had become frantic with Robson-Kanu once again slipped on goal only for Alexander-Arnold to make a brilliant recovery challenge and block his shot.

From that point, it was the visitors who dominated the ball with Liverpool ending the half having had 74 per cent possession.

Albion, though, had played with a real resilience and - at the very least - deserved to go in at the break with the scoreline all-square.

Liverpool thought they had the lead shortly after the re-start with Mane turning in a cross from Salah only to be judged offside.

Albion then hit the visitors with a swift counter that ended with Pereira seeing a low drive from 20-yards claimed by Alisson.

With 20 minutes to go, Liverpool were again dominating the ball but they were unable to find the quality needed to break through Albion's resolute.

And the Baggies were then hugely unfortunate to see a goal disallowed after they won a corner.

Gallagher's ball was initially met by Ajayi whose header was flicked into the net by Batley.

There was nothing Alisson could do to stop it. But Phillips was stood in an offside position and, very harshly, was deemed to be interfering with play.

That moment seemed to spark the game to life with Ajayi making a brilliant clearance to cut out a cross from Andy Robertson that looked begging to tapped in at one end.

Then at the other, Robson-Kanu got in behind the Liverpool defence only to see his shot saved by Alisson.

Knowing they had to score to keep their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League alive, Liverpool began throwing bodies forward.

They should have scored with just minutes to play when Alexander-Arnold cut inside Phillips inside the area before lashing a strike over the bar.

But in the last seconds of the game, Klopp's men did when they sent Alisson forward for one last throw of the dice after winning a corner.

And incredibly the keeper met Alexander-Arnold's corner with a brilliant header that flew into the corner of the net.

In doing so he became only the sixth goalkeeper to ever score in the Premier League with Peter Schmeichel, Brad Friedel, Paul Robinson, Tim Howard and Asmir Begovic the others.

Teams

Albion (4-4-1-1): Johnstone, Furlong, Ajayi, Bartley, Townsend, Yokuslu (Livermore 75), Gallagher, Phillips, Pereira, Diangana (Maitland-Niles 73), Robson-Kanu (Grant 82).

Subs not used: Button, Peltier, O'Shea, Gardner-Hickman, Robinson, Diagne.

Liverpool (4-3-3): Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Phillips, R. Williams (Wijnaldum 84), Robertson, Thiago, Fabinho, Jones (Shaquri 59) , Salah, Firmino, Mane.

Subs not used: Adrian, Tsimikas, Origi, Woodburn, Clarkson, Williams, Koumetio.