THE SHAPE OF INGS TO COME, DAN

IN this famous old stadium, most visitors with a sense of football history linger in the tunnel to feed on the romance of the ‘This Is Anfield’ sign Bill Shankly entered into folklore.

Yet if Alan Pardew was loitering beneath it last night, then it was more likely in the hope that he would be able to shake the hand of opposition striker Danny Ings.

With his path to the first team blocked by the most potent forward line in the Premier League, the Liverpool man looks certain to be allowed to go out on loan in January – and West Brom would surely love to get him.

Baggies manager Pardew (above) knows survival in the Premier League is secured not just by a solid defence but also by the ability to take chances at the other end.

Yet before last night his three recognised forwards had scored a grand total of eight goals between them all season... which is 11 fewer than Liverpool winger Mo Salah.

Baggies had scored 12 goals in the Premier League all season before they visited Anfield and, if that rate continues, they will go down. The maths are that simple.

The new manager knows that not only must he produce a winning team, but also an entertaining one. His predecessor Tony Pulis was sacked because the Baggies fans grew tried of his dour approach.

Without a new striker Pardew will struggle so no wonder he was probably more interested in the Liverpool bench last night than in their starting line-up.

After two years out, Ings (above) must be desperate to play football – and so that greeting under the Anfield sign could yet be replicated in the ever-so-slightly less famous environs of the Hawthorns.