Ings finally

West Brom ........ 2 Liverpool ........ 2

fourth-minute lead and threatened total destruction.

Sadio Mane’s cross was stopped dead by Georginio Wijnaldum and Ings stepped in to slot home that memorable goal of his.

Right. Time to buckle up and enjoy the ride to half-time with the Red revolution threatening even more goals in a frenzy of attack-minded football. Salah had a go with his trusty left foot which was deflected for a corner. Then a free-kick spun just wide of the upright.

But the expected first-half goal glut just did not materialise as Liverpool went through the motions with that Champions

League semi-final first leg against Roma on

Tuesday obviously playing on their minds.

In fact, the Baggies recovered from that early setback and threw everything at Liverpool in a raw display of passion and pride.

There were few silky moves. Even less direct efforts on goal. But every West Brom man gave their all to try and get back on level terms with a corner fest 10 minutes before the break causing endless problems for Liverpool’s back four.

It was worrying, too, when Livermore’s inviting cross was met by James McClean who flashed a chance across goal and wide of the upright.

The Baggies really got stuck in after the break – literally. Defender Ahmed Hegazi tangled and tussled with Ings and as the Baggies man got to his feet he appeared to fist-pump his opponent in the midriff.

Ings was incensed about the incident (below). Klopp thought it was a red card.

Hegazi, who later flailed an arm at Salah, was clearly wound up. Understandable, you would argue, on a day spent fighting for your Premier League life.

So just in case, Ings was hooked in the 65th minute to guarantee a great day would not be tarnished with any misdemeanours.

When normal service resumed, so did Salah. Substitute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain picked the Egypt star out with a clever ball and Salah received, steadied and executed his trademark chip over keeper Ben Foster.

A wonderful touch from the maestro of Merseyside.

But just when you expected the usual walkover, the Baggies dug even deeper and pulled one back in the 79th minute after another goalmouth scramble.

Jonny Evans, who had been booed on his introduction eight minutes earlier, stuck out a hopeful boot at first sight of goal and Livermore powerfully finished off.

It sparked a fighting finish with the bravehearts in stripes giving their faithful fans something to talk about over a beer last night – finally. Skipper Chris Brunt, with two minutes of normal time remaining, swung in a free-kick and Rondon bravely dived in to head the equaliser into the corner past a despairing Loris Karius.

Chants of, “Two-nil and you cocked it up” were not what Klopp wanted to hear as he stood pensively in his dug-out, with his hands stuffed in pockets.