Liverpool 1-1 West Brom: FT As It Happened

Disappointment for Liverpool who drop two points at home to a resolute West Brom side.

Superb save denies Firmino a late winner. 

Origi on. 

Five minutes left and Liverpool need to rally themselves for a big finale after a flat second half performance. 

Goal. West Brom equalise.

Alexander-Arnold goes close from a long range free-kick but his effort goes just over the bar. 

Clear evidence of why Liverpool need to find a second goal to put clear distance between the two sides. 

Huge chance for West Brom but Karlan Grant is denied by Alisson Becker when through on goal. 

Free header for Salah who gets under his effort and skies it over the bar. 

Liverpool not finding their stride in the second-half and are becoming sloppy in possession. 

The Reds boss is livid and is booked for his reaction as he berates Kevin Friend. 

Rhys Williams is going to replace Joel Matip who is walking off in some discomfort. 

Liverpool centre-half Joel Matip is struggling with what looks to be a groin problem.

Some nervy moments for Liverpool as West Brom show more of an attacking impetus at the start of the second-half.

Early volley from Henderson swerves narrowly wide as the West Brom 'keeper watches on. 

Liverpool get us going again at Anfield. 

Liverpool won't want this dragging on at 1-0 for much longer given their domination. 

Klopp will have on eye on giving minutes to some returning players ahead of a busy upcoming schedule. 

Game to win first and the German boss will want a two or three goal lead as soon as possible. 

Liverpool lead at the break and have dominated the ball without creating a clear cut chance to double their advantage.

Approaching half-time and yet more frustration for Liverpool as plenty of possession and crosses can't lead to another clear sight of goal. 

Wasteful at times from Liverpool as too many crosses are straight at the 'keeper.

Little action in front of goal for five minutes but Liverpool still probing for another.

Liverpool's Senegalese winger could conceivably had had a hat-trick inside half an hour as the Reds look double their lead. 

So close. More last ditch defending keeps it at 1-0 as Mane is denied what would have been a simple tap in following a delightful first time ball from Alexander-Arnold. 

Mane goes close again as he runs across his defender to glance a header towards goal. Just wide. 

More patient build up almost leads to another opening for Mane but this time its cleared. 

The resulting corner presents a glorious chance for Salah.

Unbelievable finish from Mane who's chest control is sublime before he fires home. 

GOAL! Sadio Mane opens the scoring for Liverpool!

First five minutes played exclusively in West Brom's half with Liverpool looking to pick a way through a compact visiting defence. 

Quiet start at Anfield with Liverpool settling down into possession.

West Brom get us underway

Both sides are out at Anfield and lining up ahead of this crucial festive fixture.

Five minutes until kick-off...

Expect the Reds to dominate possession and create plenty of chances with Salah and co. having plenty of sights at goal. 

Liverpool should have too much for West Brom and I predicted a 4-0 home victory. 

On Keita: ''He's a little bit injured, unfortunately. Nothing else to say.'' 

On going clear: ''First we need to think about todays game. New manager - they lost the last game and we won. We need to have solutions to any problems.''

We have just 30 minutes until kick-off at Anfield and we will hear from Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp in the build up as well as giving pre-match preview and prediction. 

If you want to watch the game on TV, your options are Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event.

 

If you want to follow the action on the internet, stick with VAVEL UK. 

West Brom could move to within a point of safety with a win whist any positive result would give new boss Sam Allardyce his first points in charge of the Baggies. 

Liverpool can go five points clear at the top of the Premier League with a win as well as the opportunity to make it 67 unbeaten league matches at Anfield. 

XI: Johnstone, Furlong, O'Shea, Ajayi, Gibbs, Phillips, Sawyers, Gallagher, Diangana, Robinson, Grant. 

Naby Keita is absent from the Liverpool squad - will relay information as to why when we have it. 

XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Fabinho, Robertson, HendersoN, Wijnaldum, Jones, Salah, Firmino, Mane. 

Subs: Kelleher, Milner, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Minamino, Shaqiri, Origi, R Williams, N Williams, Phillips

We will be back around 15:30 for confirmed team news as well as pre-match build up and TV information before kick-off at Anfield. 

This will be the first meeting between the two sides since April 2018 when it finished 2-2 at The Hawthorns. 

Late Jake Livermore and Salomon Rondon goals pegged the Reds back after Danny Ings and Mohamed Salah had put them two up. 

The visitors will be without central midfielder Jake Livermore who was sent off last weekend as Allardyce lost his first game in charge against Midlands rivals Aston Villa. 

Liverpool's most fabled summer recruit is also edging closer to a return however he isn't expected to be involved today but could still feature against Newcastle United.

After a season plagued by injury the list of absentees is slowly but surely becoming less of a hinderance as James Milner and Xherdan Shaqiri are expected to return either today or on Wednesday. 

Liverpool will come up against a familiar foe this afternoon with Sam Allardyce bringing his newly found charges to Merseyside with the former Everton manager hoping to resurrect West Brom's season. 

Jurgen Klopp's side will be looking to capitalise on their lead at the summit following last weeks back to back victories over London opposition. 

Liverpool come into the clash at Anfield having been afforded a rare eight day break following their resounding victory over Crystal Palace last weekend. 

I’m Dan Clubbe and I’ll be providing the key pre-match information before switching to live match commentary.

1. Hello and welcome to VAVEL UK’s live text commentary of the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Liverpool.