WEST BROMWICH, England, April 22, 2018 (News agencies) - Egypt and Liverpool striker, Mohamed Salah, notched up his 31st of the season to equal Luis Suarez's club record for goals in a season, as the Reds were held to 2-2 by West Bromwich. Salomon Rondon completed a remarkable comeback from two goals down against Liverpool, although the 2-2 draw at the Hawthorns will probably only delay their relegation. Liverpool appeared to have half an eye on Tuesday's Champions League semifinal against AS Roma, but still established a comfortable lead through Danny Ings and Mo Salah. The Egypt international matched the record of 31 goals for a 38-game top-flight season set by Alan Shearer (1995-96), Cristiano Ronaldo (2007-08) and Luis Suarez (2013-14) with three matches still to spare with a clever chipped finish. Andy Cole's record of 34 goals in a 42-game season looks well within the grasp of Salah, who took the limelight away from Danny Ings' first goal since October 2015. The final word, though, belonged to West Brom as it came from behind with goals from Jake Livermore and then Salomon Rondon in the 88th minute. It was just reward for the hosts, with caretaker-manager Darren Moore extending his unbeaten run to three matches, including games against two of the top four. However, it was harsh on Ings who looked set to enjoy a day to remember after a difficult period since moving to Anfield from Burnley, with two serious knee injuries restricting him to just 11 appearances for the club in his first two seasons. Ings seized his chance replacing the rested Roberto Firmino with a fourth-minute strike, his first in 930 days since scoring the last goal of Brendan Rodgers' reign. No one could begrudge him his moment in the Black Country sunshine after he tore a cruciate knee ligament in Klopp's first training session at the club, just days after winning his solitary England cap against Lithuania, and suffered another injury to his other knee just over a year later. With one eye on Tuesday's UEFA Champions League semifinal first leg at home to Roma Klopp made five changes, including three of the back four, and that gave Ings a chance. Sadio Mane worked his way to the byline and drilled in a cross which Georginio Wijnaldum controlled before allowing his teammate to blast home. It was only the third of Liverpool's last 27 league goals not to be scored by Mane, Firmino or Salah. Ings was denied a second by goalkeeper Ben Foster's outstretched foot late in the half but West Brom dominated the latter stages of the half. A rare miscontrol by James Milner allowed Livermore to whip over a far-post cross which James McClean drilled back across goal, but Jay Rodriguez's lunge was inches away from converting a certain equalizer. Ings had a penalty shout turned down after the break when Craig Dawson stepped across him to prevent him reaching Joe Gomez's pass. Salah, quiet since an 11th-minute shot was deflected over by Livermore, came in from the periphery when substitutes Firmino and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain combined to tee him up to coolly beat Foster in the 72nd minute. Livermore, though, gave the hosts hope with a scrambled finish from a corner and Rondon headed home Brunt's near-post free kick with two minutes to go. Klopp blames referee and dry pitch Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp complained about a dry pitch, refereeing decisions and West Brom's "useless" comeback after watching his side throw away a two-goal lead at The Hawthorns. Goals from Danny Ings, his first in 930 days, and Mohamed Salah's Premier League record-equalling 31st of the season appeared to have put the visitors in control with just 18 minutes to go. However, Jake Livermore and Salomon Rondon, in the 88th minute, snatched a 2-2 draw for the top-flight's bottom club. The point did little for the Baggies' chances of survival such is their deficit with the three matches to go, as they could still be relegated by Sunday, but a win for Liverpool would have left them needing one more victory to guarantee Champions League football. In amongst the comeback was a Craig Dawson challenge on Ings which Klopp thought should have been a penalty, while another flashpoint early in the second half saw Ahmed Hegazi appear to throw a punch at the striker – missed by referee Stuart Attwell – while they tussled on the ground. "Useless comeback," was Klopp's assessment of West Brom's late recovery. "I don't think that point will help West Brom massively, it is a complete waste of points: they don't need it, we would have needed it. "They are happy now, we are not happy. We stay in the league, they don't stay in the league – it is a strange situation." On the match incidents, Klopp told assembled journalists: "On the penalty we agree – and Hegazi on Ings, it is a red card. You see it, I see it, it is not a problem. "It is only important what three or four gentlemen with a whistle think. "And the second (West Brom) goal was no foul (for the free-kick which Rondon headed in)." The Reds boss was also not happy about the state of the playing surface."You have to create the best circumstances to help the boys deliver and then we let the home team decide whether they water the pitch or not," he said. "It is not only for football it is also dangerous for injuries if the pitch is really dry. I wouldn't have said nothing about that probably if we had won but it is all you see during the game." West Brom caretaker manager Darren Moore took his record to five points from three games, which includes two of the top four, and was encouraged by what he has seen despite the fact they seem destined for the Sky Bet Championship after eight seasons in the top flight. "Another good result because we as a football club have come together and by us being together it has brought another positive result," he said. "The atmosphere in here was superb; the staff, in terms of their preparation, have been great and the players have continued that on to the pitch. Together we have earned that." Asked whether not watering the pitch was pre-meditated he added: "It wasn't a ploy. It was a really hot day today. I was so engrossed in the game in terms of preparation my focus was not about the pitch."
