The Reds only needed a point away to Sion to top Group B in the Europa League on Thursday while the hosts were also in need of a point to guarantee their qualification. Unfortunately, the game played out as you’d expect when a point is enough for both sides and, despite a decent performance by Origi, who was a constant threat up front in the absence of Sturridge, who picked up a fresh hamstring injury during the week.
However, there was some positive news regarding injuries with captain Henderson starting his first game since August and coming through unscathed while Coutinho came off the bench to play the last half hour as he returns to full match fitness. It was a dull 0-0 in difficult conditions that means Liverpool should have a more favourable draw in the next round of the Europa League having topped the group but there is also a chance that Klopp could meet his former team Borussia Dortmund or even Gary Neville’s Valencia in February.
West Brom were the visitors at Anfield in the Premier League on Sunday and both Henderson and Coutinho were on from the start. The Reds took the lead in the 21st minute when a ball into the box found Lallana whose header down was met on the volley by Henderson who found the back of the net upon his league return. However, in the 30th minute West Brom drew level when Mignolet failed to collect from a corner and found himself out-of-position when Dawson scrambled home an equaliser to make it 1-1. The Baggies appeared to have taken the lead right on half-time when a free kick into the box by Gardner was met by Olsson but, after much deliberation between the assistant and the referee, it was ruled out for offside.
However, Olsson got his goal in the 73rd minute from yet another set-piece when he met a corner at the near post and his header went past Mignolet to make it 1-2. There was then a long delay in the game when a heavy challenge by Gardner caught Lovren with the follow through, leaving the centre-back injured and eventually replaced by Origi as Klopp went all out to try to get his team back into the game. Lallana had a great chance to equalise when Benteke played him through but his low shot was well saved by Myhill in the West Brom goal. Rondon almost wrapped up the points for the Baggies but he dragged his shot wide and Liverpool got their equaliser 6 minutes inside the 10 minutes of injury time when a long-range effort by Origi was deflected off McAuley into the far corner of the net.
Klopp tried to usher his team forward to get a winner but the Reds had to settle for a point and Klopp led his players towards the Kop to thank the supporters for staying to cheer their side on right until the end.
Liverpool will travel to Vicarage Road to take on Watford in the Premier League next Saturday as they will look to gain some ground on the teams above them with only five points separating them from the Champions League places.
