West Brom Fightback Steals Spotlight From Salah
Zeeshan Mehtab Published April 21, 2018 | 08:14 PM
Mohamed Salah bagged a record-equalling goal for Liverpool, but a dramatic late equaliser from Salomon Rondon earned West Bromwich Albion a 2-2 draw on Saturday.
West Bromwich, United Kingdom, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st Apr, 2018 ) :Mohamed Salah bagged a record-equalling goal for Liverpool, but a dramatic late equaliser from Salomon Rondon earned West Bromwich Albion a 2-2 draw on Saturday.
Rondon rose impressively in the 89th minute, arriving to nod in Chris Brunt's free-kick and complete Albion's recovery from a two-goal deficit at the Hawthorns. But bottom of the table West Brom still look set for relegation from the Premier League as they are eight points from safety with only three games left.
Liverpool remain third, three points behind second-placed Manchester United. Jurgen Klopp's side had seemed firmly in control as Salah equalled Ian Rush's Liverpool record of scoring in 32 different games in a single season and collected his 31st league goal of the campaign, his 41st overall.
Egypt winger Salah tied the Premier League record of most goals in a 38-game campaign, joining Alan Shearer (1995-96), Cristiano Ronaldo (2007-08) and Luis Suarez (2013-14). He also equalled Suarez's Liverpool record for most goals in a Premier League season.
Earlier, it was Danny Ings, a player whose Liverpool career has been blighted by injuries since moving from Burnley, who was the centre of attention with his first goal in 930 days. Ings was preferred to Roberto Firmino, one of five key personnel rested by Klopp with an eye on Tuesday's Champions League semi-final first leg with Roma, and the former England international wasted little time in justifying his manager's faith.
Sadio Mane worked a short corner with James Milner, crossing into the six-yard area where Georginio Wijnaldum had space to control the ball into the path of Ings who drove home convincingly. It was Ings' first goal since scoring against Everton in October 2015, shortly after his move to Anfield, and his celebrations indicated the obvious relief felt by a player who has badly injured the cruciate ligaments in both knees in the intervening years.
- Anxious finale - More importantly, the goal put Liverpool ahead in a game Klopp badly needed to win in his quest to ensure his side finishes the season in the top four to guarantee Champions League football next term.
Klopp has insisted that a top-four finish remains as much a priority as reaching the Champions League final and a run of just one defeat in their last 15 games in all competitions testifies to the German's intent.
On this occasion, Liverpool seemed to be as good as over the finishing line on 71 minutes when Salah moved five goals clear of Tottenham's Harry Kane in the race for the Premier League's Golden Boot award.
Firmino headed on a long punt from Loris Karius with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain taking up the running before playing in Salah who finished clinically by lifting the ball over the keeper from eight yards.
But Klopp was left to face an anxious finale when Albion pulled a goal back on 78 minutes. Brunt's corner was headed back across goal by Jay Rodriguez and, after a Craig Dawson shot had been saved, Jake Livermore rammed home the loose ball.
The balancing act, of ensuring his side continues to pick up league points while preparing for their Champions League campaign, has not been an easy one and Klopp's team selection carried with it a degree of risk.
Not that the early going was too problematic for Liverpool as Salah saw a shot deflected behind off Livermore, Ings headed wide from Milner's cross and Salah planted a 20-yard free-kick over. But Albion, fresh from their surprise victory at Manchester United last weekend, grew into the game and Rodriguez came close to converting a James McClean cross before the interval, foreshadowing the late comeback that gave Liverpool a shock before their European adventure.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 9 May 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 09 May 2024
IHC adjourns PTI founder, Qureshi's appeal till Thursday
CDWP recommends 3 projects to ECNEC for approval
Tarar assures APNS to resolve issues of newspaper industry
Pakistan urged to capitalize on economic stability, for Tobacco Tax Reforms
N. Macedonia polls set to upend ties with EU neighbours
Croatia's ruling party reaches coalition deal with right wing
Bayern coach Tuchel makes three changes for Madrid showdown
Olympic flame arrives on French soil for Paris Games
Punjab Finance Minister announces expansion of Social Protection Authority's man ..
Kenya inks deal to end doctors' strike
More Stories From Sports
-
Bayern coach Tuchel makes three changes for Madrid showdown
11 hours ago -
Olympic flame arrives on French soil for Paris Games
11 hours ago -
16th CNS international squash championship begins
12 hours ago -
Rana hopes Hockey team to play final in the Azlan Shah tournament
12 hours ago -
SA Gardens, Wapda quality for National Challenge Cup semis
14 hours ago -
Olympic flame to arrive on French soil
14 hours ago
-
Lahore, Karachi to face each other in final of National Women’s One-Day Tournament
15 hours ago -
Pakistan Jr. Tennis team for South Asian Tennis Championship announced
15 hours ago -
GCP wins overall trophy of KP HED Inter-College Boys Games
16 hours ago -
Sports teaches discipline, unity, tolerance: Meena Khan
17 hours ago -
4th Union Club Gatorade trophy ranking tennis championship concludes
18 hours ago -
Bicycle race organized to promote of sports activities among youth
16 hours ago