That’s about it for our new MBM afterparty. One last bit of business: Macclesfield Town have been promoted back to the Football League. Please join John Brewin for this afternoon’s matches, and I’ll be back for the FA Cup semi-final at 5.15pm. See you then.
Jurgen Klopp is not a happy man “We controlled the game pretty well. They only really had opportunities from set pieces. They were blocking the goalkeeper the whole game on corners – I know everyone likes that in this country but it makes like quite difficult for the goalie. I heard the second goal was not a foul. I don’t know why [Hegazi punched Ings]. You need a bit of … not help, just the right decisions, and then we win here 3-0 or 3-1.
“It was a difficult game as the pitch got drier and drier – they obviously decided not to water it at half-time. I was not happy with the pitch. You’ve never played football obviously because it makes a massive difference if you want to pass the ball. If you’re like West Brom and you play the ball constantly in the air you don’t need a wet pitch. I’m not in the mood to talk about positive things but tomorrow I’ll tell Danny how good it was to see him score.”
West Brom 2-2 Liverpool Stuart James’ match report from the Hawthorns has dropped - and here it is.
Steve McMahon, who is in the Sky studio, is unhappy about a few things: zonal marking, Lorus Karius, Jurgen Klopp not picking his first-choice back four, West Brom’s effort. I’m looking forward to The Debate featuring Steve McMahon and Ian Wright.
Liverpool weren’t happy with the award of the free-kick for the second goal. It looked a fair decision on the replays. That said, Liverpool should have had a penalty at 1-0 for a foul on Ings.
The goalscorer Jake Livermore speaks “It’s a shame we’re running out of time as we’ve started to get a bit of belief and confidence in the last few games. All we can do is keep fighting and see what happens. It’s not for the want of trying. Confidence is a massive thing and we’ve thrown away a lot of points from winning positions.”
The team news is in for the 3pm games up and down the country. John Brewin, who can name every starting XI in Premier League history, is following those matches - so you don’t have to!
Here’s the updated Premier League table. Liverpool aren’t guaranteed a top-four place but they shouldn’t have any problems.
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In case you’ve just woken up in a pool of your own drool, it finished 2-2 at the Hawthorns. Danny Ings scored early on for Liverpool, his first goal since 2015, and the inevitable Mo Salah put them 2-0 up in the second half. That seemed to be that, but West Brom scored twice from set pieces to earn a point. Jake Livermore and Salomon Rondon got the goals, and they might even have snatched an absurd win.
Jurgen Klopp does not look particularly happy with life. He’s having a chat with Ragnar Klavan about something or other. It doesn’t really matter, as Liverpool are going to finish in the top four and, most importantly, they didn’t get any injuries ahead of the Roma game.
West Brom showed plenty of character to continue their impressive mini-run. They are going down with a belated fight, and could at least sneak off the bottom of the table before the end of the season.
Full time: West Brom 2-2 Liverpool
Peep peep!
90+3 min Burke, found by Evans on the edge of the box, slashes at fresh air. Liverpool, who were cruising 15 minutes ago, are now hanging on for a draw.
90+3 min Milner slaps a shot over the bar from 20 yards.
90+2 min A superb defensive header from Van Dijk saves Liverpool, with Phillips about to get on the end of Rondon’s cross.
90+2 min There will be four minutes of added time. Brunt’s long throw is headed on by Livermore and collected by Karius.
90+1 min West Brom are going down, but this has been a stirring little run under Darren Moore: three games, five points, no defeats.
90 min Karius was again in no man’s land for that goal. His shot-stopping can be excellent but he is a joke on set pieces.
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89 min West Brom bring on Hal Robson-Kanu for Jay Rodriguez.
GOAL! West Brom 2-2 Liverpool (Rondon 88)
Oh me, oh my. It’s 2-2! Brunt whips in a brilliant free-kick from the left, and Rondon gets in front of Lovren at the near post to stoop and head past Karius!
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86 min A great chance for West Brom to equalise! Lovren’s weak backheader is straight into the path of Rondon, whose attempted lob is excellently saved by the advancing Karius.
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85 min Liverpool are playing with a back five now, which is inviting a bit of pressure. Oxlade-Chamberlain leads a break and hits a big, deep cross beyond the far post. Firmino tries to guide a header back across Foster but can’t quite get around the ball and it drifts safely across the six-yard line.
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83 min Liverpool make their final change, with Dejan Lovren replacing Mo Salah.
82 min Liverpool have responded well to that goal, with three minutes of almost uninterrupted possession.
GOAL! West Brom 1-2 Liverpool (Livermore 79)
West Brom score from the corner. Brunt’s booming, deep inswinger was helped back into the six-yard area by Rodriguez. Dawson’s shot was blocked by Karius but Livermore turned it in from close range.
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78 min Brunt waves a lovely pass over the top with the outside of his left foot. Phillips gets there first and cushions a volley back to Rodriguez, who is about to shoot when Klavan appears to concede a corner.
76 min Another West Brom change: Oliver Burke replaces Kieran Gibbs.
75 min That was Salah’s 41st goal of the season and his 31st in the league. For a wide forward, that’s ridiculous.
74 min Oxlade-Chamberlain will surely start at the World Cup. He is playing beautifully at the moment.
GOAL! West Brom 0-2 Liverpool (Salah 72)
The Mo-ssiah gets his obligatory goal. He’s been a bit wasteful today but that was beautifully taken. Oxlade-Chamberlain put him through with a gorgeous reverse pass, and Salah took a touch before dinking the ball gently over the advancing Foster. Lovely goal.
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71 min A West Brom change: Jonny Evans replaces James McClean, with Kieran Gibbs moving into McClean’s stead.
70 min Dawson’s acrobatic volley bounces around the area and eventually through to Karius. Liverpool have dealt well, if a touch desperately, with West Brom’s set pieces.
69 min Moreno is booked for an inept hack at Phillips, who has the beating of him.
69 min “Rob, I’m working on my reaction,” says Charles Antaki. “Not sure about what, but thanks for the advance notice. Like many people I guess I’m all over the place, and that’s just about Arsène, so a bit of rumination first is a good idea. [Many minutes later] Nope, it’s not working. Can I come back to you early next season?”
Always.
68 min Nyom plays a despicable pass straight to Salah, who runs into the area before messing up a fancy flick towards Firmino.
67 min A win would take Liverpool to within a point of second-placed Manchester United, having played a game more.
66 min Liverpool make a double substitution: Roberto Firmino and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain replace the goalscorer Danny Ings and and Sadio Mane.
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64 min After a decent start to the second half by West Brom, Liverpool are again in control of the game.
63 min Salah runs at the heart of the defence, used Mane by not using him and then hits a low shot is blocked by Nyom.
61 min “Just tuned in,” says Scott Oliver. “Pitch looks slow. Which may explain why WBA are looking to sit back against Liverpool’s pace, hoping it may turn later... What season is this?”
Shomer shabbos?
59 min Phillips rampages into the area from the right, a superb run that ends with an attempted cutback to Rodriguez. The angle isn’t great and Van Dijk clears for a corner.
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56 min Ings is penalised for fouling Hegazi. The two of them fall on the floor, at which points Hegazi punches Ings in the stomach! That was really odd. It wasn’t a proper punch, but he should have been sent off.
53 min West Brom are playing with greater intensity in the second half, which will please Steve McMahon.
52 min Foster’s long free-kick bounces all the way through to Rondon in the area. Karius flies out and dives forward dramatically to push the ball partially away from Rondon. That leaves Karius out of the game and ahead of the ball, but it falls kindly for Liverpool and Klavan lumps it clear.
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52 min The only reason I can think for Stuart Attwell not giving Liverpool a penalty is that Ings was not in possession of the ball. But that has nothing to do with anything, really.
51 min “Fine words from Steve McMahon on Sky,” says Richard South. “Even though he doesn’t advocate just kicking people, he thinks West Brom should just kick Liverpool a bit more. That’s the kind of tactical insight that earns you the big bucks.”
50 min McClean screws a shot well wide from 20 yards.
48 min Salah plays a slick give and go with Mane, bursts into the box ... and then leaves the ball behind. I’m not sure what happened then because it looked like he was about to score.
47 min Liverpool appeal for a penalty when Dawson blocks Ings in the box. Ings was nowhere near the ball but that doesn’t really matter and Dawson certainly tripped him. The only debate is whether it was obstruction, and therefore an indirect free-kick, or a foul. It looked like the latter.
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47 min “Has Gary Naylor seen/heard Tim Minchin’s Groundhog Day?” asks Matt Dony. “Sondheim had planned to write it, but decided that the film couldn’t be improved upon. So big respect to Minchin for effectively saying, ‘Hold my drink, Stephen. I’ll get it sorted.’ I have Hamilton tickets for July, and I am very, very excited. Almost as excited as I am by the prospect of Salah tearing past Real Madrid in Kiev...”
46 min Peep peep! West Brom begin the second half.
Sign! Sign! Sign!
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We’re going to extend today’s MBM to take in a bit of post-match reaction, so please do stick around after the final whistle. Think of it as an MBM afterparty, with the sex and drugs replaced by hardcore soccer chat.
A bit of half-time reading
Half time: West Brom 0-1 Liverpool
Peep peep! A sleepy half of football comes to an end. Liverpool lead through Danny Ings’ first goal since 2015; he also had a great chance to make it 2-0. West Brom have had their moments, though Liverpool have generally been in control.
44 min “Hi Rob,” says Steven Ferriday. “Re: the manager rumble. Moore is a good shout, but I think Dyche would ultimately prevail using the Mountain’s finishing move on Oberyn Martell in Game of Thrones. Conte would bring a big knife and complain it isn’t sharp enough.”
42 min Salah scurries into the area again. Gibbs’ desperate tackle diverts the ball to Ings, whose close-range shot is superbly blocked by the outrushing Foster. If Ings had his time again he’d lift it over Foster. It was a really good save, though.
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42 min “Hodgson for me too, Rob,” says Elliot Wilson. “Like Toby Ziegler in the West Wing, he’d fight nasty with a sock full of pennies in his clenched fist.”
I’ve just started watching the West Wing. I suppose I can’t really complain about plotspoiling a program that has been on TV for 19 years.
41 min Liverpool have switched off a bit in the last 10 minutes. It feels like they have a few gears available if they need them.
38 min “If we’re talking Ritchie Partridge,” says Paul Neilan, “give the man his full title: ‘Ritchie Partridge AM R/L £190K’. Obscenely, the same price as Stephen Halliday (Full title: ‘Stephen Halliday AM/FC £190K’.)”
At what age do you think it becomes unacceptable to reinstall Championship Manager 2001/02. I’M ASKING FOR AN EFFING FRIEND OKAY.
37 min West Brom’s best chance. Livermore swings a high, deep cross from the right that comes to McClean at a tight angle beyond the far post. He volleys it back across goal and just wide of the far post, with the stretching Rodriguez unable to turn it into the net. I’m not sure whether that was a cross or a shot from McClean but either way it was a good effort.
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36 min A good spell for West Brom, who win four corners in quick succession. The second of those, taken by Phillips, flashes right across the line of goal with Karius out of the game.
31 min “If all the current managers had to fight,” says JR in Illinois, “I would take Darren Moore.”
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29 min Rondon is very lucky not to booked for a crunching tackle on Ings.
28 min West Brom haven’t been able to land anything on Liverpool’s weakened defence. Van Dijk, as usual, is playing the game with a resting heart rate. I think he’s magnificent.
26 min ... and Salah curls a nice free-kick just wide of the near post. Foster had it covered, I think.
25 min Milner is playing so well. He flips a classy pass over the top for Salah, who turns Hegazi and is pulled back. Liverpool have a free-kick 25 yards from goal, to the right of centre...
24 min Liverpool are having so much possession. Milner’s cross from the right is headed over from 10 yards by Ings, who saw it late as it came over Hegazi’s head.
22 min Rodriguez plays a nice reverse pass infield for Phillips, who works the ball onto his left foot but drives tamely at Karius. It was a half chance at best.
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20 min Milner has been really lively in midfield. Mane also looks sharp; after a dodgy few months he is bang in form.
18 min Brunt spanks a long-range half-volley into orbit with his weaker right foot.
17 min “Very disappointing to see Klopp is not giving fringe players like Ritchie Partridge, Conor Coady, Ings, Aspas, or even Macheda a go,” says Paul Griffin. “Reluctantly concluding that, like Pep at Citeh, The Big German has taken Liverpool as far as he can.”
I agree. In fact, I’m starting to wonder whether football has taken football as far as it can.
16 min Phillips’ terrific cross is headed behind for a corner by Gomez. Brunt drives a deep corner to Dawson, who nods it into the six-yard box. Karius punches clear but a couple of West Brom players were offside anyway.
15 min Nyom is a bit lucky not to be booked for a lunge at Milner.
13 min Salah goes on another Messi-like run at the West Brom defence, who look terrified every time he gets the ball. Eventually Hegazi’s attempted clearance hits Salah and runs out for a goalkick.
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11 min Salah scurries away from Hegazi on the right side of the box and whips a shot that loops just over the bar after a deflection off Livermore.
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11 min Van Dijk is limping. He landed a bit awkwardly in the process of tackling Rondon. I don’t think it’s anything serious though.
10 min “Salad Days is just about my favourite musical (well, until I see Hamilton in three weeks, six days and five hours time),” says Gary Naylor. “The plot concerns a magic piano that compels everyone to dance (and there’s a spaceship too, natch). It’s all very different to Klopp’s Heavy Metal Football, but actually fits the way his front three have danced through defences this season - salad days indeed.”
9 min Liverpool are swaggering around the Hawthorns like they own the place. They are so damn hot right now.
6 min That was a really uplifting moment. Ings closed his eyes and screwed his face up as he tried to take it all in. All that rehab, all those bloody weights and squat thrusts and ice baths and misery... they were all worth it.
GOAL! West Brom 0-1 Liverpool (Ings 4)
Danny Ings gets his first goal since October 2015! He’s almost in tears of joy. It came from a short corner that was worked nicely by Mane and Milner. Mane’s low cross was stopped by Wijnaldum and rammed in from eight yards by Ings.
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2 min “Stuck at work on a day like this and in the midst of a breakup, but will be keeping track of the match,” says James Cookson. “I really REALLY want Ings to get on the scoresheet. The lad deserves it.”
He sure does. His last goal was in Brendan Rodgers’ final game, wasn’t it? I have no idea where players get the strength to come back from long-term injury. I’d disappear into a slough of booze and Deliveroo.
1 min Peep peep! Liverpool get the match under way on a lovely spring afternoon at the Hawthorns.
The players are in the tunnel, which means it’s nearly business o’clock. My prediction, since you didn’t ask, is West Brom 1-4 Liverpool.
“Salad days?” writes Patrick. “Salah days surely?”
Arf, very good. I’ll be stealing that one!
West Brom are unchanged from the team that won at Old Trafford. Liverpool, with Roma in mind, make five changes: Firmino, Lovren, Alexander-Arnold, Robertson and Oxlade-Chamberlain are all rested.
An email! “Salad days they are but a lot of us (older) Liverpool fans are waiting for the worm to pop out of the tomato,” says Niall Mullen. “The David James against Coventry, the Federico effing Macheda, the Gerrard sli... I can’t even say it. Our previous relative success has always felt like a one off, built on sand & unable to withstand any misfortune. I’d love to see us back this season up without, metaphorically speaking, buying Rickie Lambert again.”
Pre-match reading
Team news
West Brom (4-4-2) Foster; Nyom, Dawson, Hegazi, Gibbs; Phillips, Livermore, Brunt, McClean; Rondon, Rodriguez.
Substitutes: Myhill, Evans, Yacob, Burke, Krychowiak, Field, Robson-Kanu.
Liverpool (4-3-3) Karius; Gomez, Van Dijk, Klavan, Moreno; Wijnaldum, Henderson, Milner; Salah, Ings, Mane.
Substitutes: Mignolet, Lovren, Firmino, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Robertson, Solanke, Alexander-Arnold.
Referee Stuart Attwell.
Preamble
Hello. Bliss it is in this dawn to be alive, but to be a Liverpool fan must be very heaven. These are salad days for Jurgen Klopp’s team, whose intrepid Champions League campaign continues against Roma at Anfield on Tuesday. That puts today’s visit to West Brom in a slightly underwhelming context, but the word on the street is that Klopp will pick a very strong side. Liverpool will want to extend the feelgood mood of recent weeks.
West Brom had an unlikely hit of happiness last weekened, when they won at Old Trafford. They also knocked Liverpool out of the FA Cup at Anfield in January, a result that boggles the mind a little more each week. Their relegation is unlikely to be confirmed this weekend, but they will be put out of their misery soon enough.
Kick off is at 12.30pm.
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