Rondon completes West Brom comeback, Liverpool’s Salah nets 31st league goal
>> WEST BROMWICH: 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 yesterday.
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 Manchester United.
Juergen 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, who was the centre of attention with his first goal in 930 days.
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.
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 Golden Boot award.
Substitute Roberto 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.
As Liverpool struggled to hold on, Brunt delivered a free-kick into the area for Rondon to head home with two minutes remaining.