Late reply stops Jurgen’s men from leading the Prem but they are looking title contenders

reply from Gareth McAuley that ensured a nervous last nine minutes.

The over-excited PA announcer claimed that Liverpool had gone top as the two teams walked off at the end.

They hadn’t. But the reality is that Klopp seems to have a team capable of challenging for the prize that has eluded Liverpool for almost three decades.

That the Merseysiders would stretch their unbeaten Premier League run against the Baggies to seven matches was only in doubt in the closing stages.

Mane had an early claim for a penalty correctly dismissed by referee Neil Swarbrick when he got into a tangle with Allan Nyom.

But it wouldn’t be long before the Senegalese winger showed why the £34million it cost to bring him in from Southampton in the summer was money well spent.

Perhaps it would have been different had Tony Pulis’ men made the most of an early opportunity – visitors sprung a terrific count attack that saw Nacer Chadli free M Phillips with a clever pass.

Phillips then tried to pick out unmarked Salomon Rondon and Venezuelan would have surely sco had Joel Matip not produced a v interception.

When Liverpool went ahead in 20th minute with one of the goals of the season.

West Brom were fatally exposed when the outst andin g Coutinho stepped over James Milner’s pass to allow Emre Can to gal lop free from midfield.

There was still plenty to do. But the German midfielder sent Roberto Firmino free. And when his far- post cross dropped tantalisingly over the head of Nyom,