Liverpool warmed up for their Champions League semi-final by throwing away a two goal lead to draw 2-2 with bottom of the table West Bromwich Albion.

Goals from Danny Ings and Mo Salah put the Reds in command at The Hawthorns and with 12 minutes left, they looked on course for a comfortable three points.

But Albion refused to give up and can continue clinging onto their faint survival hopes thanks to a close-range strike from Jake Livermore and Salomon Rondon's bullet header from a Chris Brunt freekick.

Rondon nods home (
Image:
PA)

Jurgen Klopp made five changes to his starting lineup ahead of the European clash against Roma.

And one of those, Ings, made an early impact with the opener after just four minutes, ending his 930 day wait for a Premier League goal.

Sadio Mane played a short corner with Jordan Henderson, gloriously evaded Jay Rodriguez and drove a low cross into the box, where Gini Wijnaldum controlled and Ings snapped a low left-foot shot past Ben Foster.

Ings fires home (
Image:
REUTERS)
Liverpool celebrate Ings' opener (
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REUTERS)

Ings was a handful throughout the first period, and both headed over and forced Ben Foster into a fine save as the Reds looked to extend their lead.

Albion also went close before the break, a Livermore cross volleyed across goal by James McClean dissecting the despairing dive of Jay Rodriguez and Loris Karius' left-hand post.

The Reds did double their advantage midway through the second period however, substitutes Roberto Firmino and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain combining to free Salah, who ran into the penalty area and dinked over Foster for his 31st Premier League goal of the campaign and his 41st in all competitions.

Salah celebrates (
Image:
PA)
Livermore turns home for 2-1 (
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REUTERS)

But West Brom have a renewed spirit under caretaker boss Darren Moore and fought back as they refuse to accept relegation as their fate.

Jake Livermore equalised from close range with 11 minutes remaining, turning into the net after Craig Dawson had been denied.

And Moore's unbeaten start continued as Rondon headed home Brunt's delivery in the 88th minute, to earn the Baggies a point.

Rondon heads home to give Albion a share of the spoils (
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REUTERS)
Rondon celebrates netting (
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REUTERS)
Bemusement (
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Getty Images Europe)
Milner and Van Dijk hold a post-match inquisition (
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REUTERS)

That meant Albion avoided defeat in a Premier League game in which they were two goals down for the first time since February 2015, and doubled the amount of points they have come back to win from losing positions this season.

Suddenly, Moore is making himself a candidate for the top job, while a furious Klopp will need to lift his side, some of whom were at odds with one another at full-time.

Here are five talking points from The Hawthorns....

1. Klopp’s eyes on Europe

Klopp on the touchline (
Image:
Getty Images Europe)

On Friday, Jurgen Klopp insisted he would resist wholesale changes: "We have to line up a really, really strong line-up. We respect always the intensity of the season.”

On Saturday, the German had elected to make five, swapping out three of his back four - Virgil van Dijk the only remainder from the victory over Bournemouth - while Roberto Firmino, so often the lead for the Reds of when to press, when to sit off, sat on the bench also (Danny Ings coming in for him).

“We have the players available. Now we have Alberto [Moreno], we have Ragnar [Klavan], we have Ingsy – and that helps us a lot.”

Make no mistake, it’s all eyes on Europe and immortality for Klopp and his charges now.

2. Ings ready to fight for his Anfield future

Ings celebrates getting his name back on the scoresheet (
Image:
Liverpool FC)

Danny Ings has endured a miserable few years with injury, with two serious knee injuries since 2015 meaning that this was just the 25-year-old's 20th appearance for the Reds since joining from Burnley almost three years ago.

Throughout, Ings has kept working, kept doing the rehab, kept plugging away to get back to the feeling that he hasn't felt since netting at Goodison Park on October 4 2015: scoring a Premier League.

In the West Midlands, on a warm summer's day, Ings finally felt that feeling again and it will offer something of vindication for Klopp.

Ings fires home, firing left footed past Foster (
Image:
Getty Images Europe)

The German has been a fan of Ings' since his arrival at the club and believes that fully fit he is a good back up option to have behind undisputed first choice Roberto Firmino; a better back up than the infinitely more talented - but less tuned into Klopp's methods - Daniel Sturridge.

It was telling then that when West Brom enquired about a striker in January, they were given short shrift over Ings, but allowed to take Sturridge on loan.

Now Ings will hope to kick on. Here he looked sharper, fitter, as willing as ever to run in behind but here with renewed vigour. Chances came his way during his 65 minute display.

It's a big summer for the one-cap England striker, but this was a sign that he, fitness permitting, still has a role to play at Anfield moving forwards.

3. The great Matt Phillips conundrum

Phillips drives through two challenges (
Image:
REUTERS)

At the age of 27, Albion's impending demotion - despite a pretty remarkable comeback - will be the third relegation on the CV of Matt Phillips.

The winger has dropped out of the Premier League with Blackpool and QPR previously, and is seemingly destined to be one of the top-flights nearly men; good enough to tear up the Championship, but never to make a consistent impact in the top tier.

But there is a player there.

At times Liverpool had no answer to the Scotland international's blend of pace, power and trickery as he led Albion attacks down the right; his movement and dynamism troubled Alberto Moreno throughout.

Ex-Baggies boss Tony Pulis was a big fan of Phillips, but always believed there was more to come, even on the good days. If there is a manager who believes he can get that extra 5-10 per cent out of Phillips, then expect him back in the Premier League next term. If not, he'll be key to Albion's return bid.

4. Hegazi may face trouble

Hegazi clashes with Ings and appears to have a dig (
Image:
Sky Sports)

Fortunately for Ahmed Hegazi, the giant defender, Stuart Atwell missed his little second half dig on Ings, otherwise last week's Old Trafford hero would have become the villain this week.

Hegazi won a freekick off Ings as the striker backed into the 6ft 5in centre-half, but as both landed on the floor, the Egyptian took the opportunity to land a quick jab in the mid-rift of his opponent.

In a week where Marcos Alonso was given a three-game ban for treading down the back of Shane Long's calf - thus costing him an FA Cup semi-final - Hegazi may well find himself in trouble with the FA.

5. Salah keeps on scoring

Salah celebrates (
Image:
REUTERS)

This certainly wasn't a vintage performance from Salah.

His passing was largely off, he made the wrong decision more often than not and was pretty well shackled for the large part.

But then, just when they needed it midway through the second half, Liverpool got him precisely where they wanted him: running free, into the penalty area, onto a perfectly weighted pass.

As Foster advanced, it was little surprise to see Salah dink effortlessly into the net.

Goal 31 in the Premier League. Goal 41 in all. Roma have been warned.

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