Liverpool 2 - West Brom 2: Divock Origi rescues point for Jurgen Klopp at Anfield

Jordan Henderson gave Liverpool the lead, but it last only nine minutes

THE Premier League has a new managerial rivalry. After the antipathy between Mourinho and Wenger, the animosity of Ferguson and Benitez, here was Klopp versus Pulis in all its fist-pumping, chest-beating, rabble-rousing glory.

 

The duo had been sniping at each other throughout a frenzied contest, tempers inflamed by Craig Gardner’s challenge on Dejan Lovren that led to the Liverpool defender being carried off on a stretcher, when a deflected Divock Origi goal in the sixth minute of injury time lit the blue touchpaper.

While it rescued a valuable point for the hosts, it was the signal for remarkable cheerleading celebrations from an animated Klopp, who became lost in the moment.

He rushed over to the home supporters and punched the air three times before retreating to his technical area where he thumped his chest in front of Pulis, cupping his ears and imploring Anfield to sing loud and proud.

 

The final whistle did nothing to calm the tumult. West Brom coach Mark O’Connor followed Klopp onto the pitch, his outstretched hand repeatedly brushed away by the Liverpool manager. Then, when Klopp reluctantly clasped it, he immediately withdrew his hand as if it had been squeezed.

His routine was rounded off when he gathered his players together, called on them to hold hands and together they ran up to The Kop as his Borussia Dortmund teams would do to the Yellow Wall. Goodness knows what Klopp would have done had Origi’s effort from distance, which ricocheted off Gareth McAuley, been the winning goal.

“It was only one point but it felt like three, an explosion,” he said. “It was the best atmosphere in my time in England, absolutely great and I wanted to say thank you.”

When the dust settles, both managers will recognise that instead of nursing a sense of grievance with each other they should be unhappy with a point. This may be the most unpredictable of Premier League seasons, yet some cast iron certainties continue to be played out.

 

Benteke was allowed little space by West Brom's defence

Liverpool contriving to make life difficult for themselves at Anfield due to an inability to defend set pieces, and Simon Mignolet failing to cover himself in glory, remain two of them.

On the one hand, Mignolet was seeking to take responsibility by coming for Chris Brunt’s 30th-minute corner, but the slapstick manner in which he did so merely lengthened his charge sheet.

He collided with Christian Benteke and when the loose ball squirted away from Salomon Rondon and Nathaniel Clyne, there was Craig Dawson to dispatch a left-footed shot through a crowd of players.

It was the fourth successive game in which West Brom have clambered from the canvas and that they did not hold firm after Jonas Olsson gave them the lead in the 73rd minute will grate.

 

West Brom were outraged at having a goal disallowed

Again, the goal arrived from a dangerous Brunt corner. Adam Lallana and Lovren were near the Swedish defender, but his flick found the target and came after a header in the first half was rightly scrubbed for offside after consultation between the referee and his assistant who had not raised his flag.

The moment was Lovren’s last involvement as Gardner won a tackle, but left the Croatian in a crumpled heap with a full-blooded follow through. Lovren required stitches in his right knee and will have a scan after leaving on crutches, but Liverpool will hope his recovery proves as quick as their own.

It had been a long time since they had taken the lead when Philippe Coutinho clipped in a centre at which Brunt lost his bearings and was oblivious to Lallana’s presence. A cushioned header was swept home instinctively by Jordan Henderson and the out-pouring of emotion that followed hinted at the frustration he has endured during three months out with a heel problem and a broken foot.

 

Henderson was industrious off the ball, and cute on it, and his return will boost Liverpool, not least because he is one of the few midfielders who can chip in with goals.

When Lallana rolled a shot against Boaz Myhill’s legs with time running out it appeared Klopp’s mood would grow darker, but the bold introduction of Origi paid dividends.

Round Two of Pulis and Klopp comes on the final day of the season. If it was anything like this, it will be worth the wait.

LIVERPOOL (4-3-2-1): Mignolet 4; Clyne 6, Skrtel 6, Lovren 7 (Origi 79, 6), Moreno 6; Henderson 7, Can 6, Milner 6; Lallana 6 (Firmino 86), Coutinho 6 (Ibe 71, 6); Benteke 6. Goals: Henderson 21, Origi 90. NEXT UP: Watford (a) Sun, PL.

WEST BROM (4-1-4-1): Myhill 7; Dawson 7, McAuley 7, Olsson 7, Brunt 6; Evans 6; Gardner 6, Fletcher 6, Morrison 6, McClean 6; Rondon 7 (Lambert 90). Goals: Dawson 30, Olsson 73. NEXT UP: Bournemouth (h) Sat, PL.

Referee: Craig Pawson (South Yorkshire).