West Brom draw to steal spotlight from Salah

Mohamed Salah bagged a record-equalling goal for Liverpool, but a dramatic late equaliser from Salomon Rondon earned West Bromwich Albion a 2-2 draw yesterday. Rondon rose impressively in the 89th minute, arriving to nod in Chris Brunt’s free-kick and complete Albion’s recovery from a two-goal deficit at the Hawthorns.
But bottom of the table West Brom still look set for relegation from the Premier League as they are eight points from safety with only three games left. Liverpool remain third, three points behind second-placed Manchester United.
Jurgen Klopp’s side had seemed firmly in control as Salah equalled Ian Rush’s Liverpool record of scoring in 32 different games in a single season and collected his 31st league goal of the campaign, his 41st overall. Egypt winger Salah tied the Premier League record of most goals in a 38-game campaign, joining Alan Shearer (1995-96), Cristiano Ronaldo (2007-08) and Luis Suarez (2013-14).
He also equalled Suarez’s Liverpool record for most goals in a Premier League season. Earlier, it was Danny Ings, a player whose Liverpool career has been blighted by injuries since moving from Burnley, who was the centre of attention with his first goal in 930 days.
Ings was preferred to Roberto Firmino, one of five key personnel rested by Klopp with an eye on Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final first leg with Roma, and the former England international wasted little time in justifying his manager’s faith.
Sadio Mane worked a short corner with James Milner, crossing into the six-yard area where Georginio Wijnaldum had space to control the ball into the path of Ings who drove home convincingly.
It was Ings’ first goal since scoring against Everton in October 2015, shortly after his move to Anfield, and his celebrations indicated the obvious relief felt by a player who has badly injured the cruciate ligaments in both knees in the intervening years.
Liverpool seemed to be as good as over the finishing line on 71 minutes when Salah moved five goals clear of Tottenham’s Harry Kane in the race for the Premier League’s Golden Boot award.
Firmino headed on a long punt from Loris Karius with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain taking up the running before playing in Salah who finished clinically by lifting the ball over the keeper from eight yards.
But Klopp was left to face an anxious finale when Albion pulled a goal back on 78 minutes. Brunt’s corner was headed back across goal by Jay Rodriguez and, after a Craig Dawson shot had been saved, Jake Livermore rammed home the loose ball.
Albion, fresh from their surprise victory at Manchester United last weekend, grew into the game and Rodriguez came close to converting a James McClean cross before the interval, foreshadowing the late comeback that gave Liverpool a shock before their European adventure.

Palace’s Zaha in fresh diving row in Watford stalemate
Wilfried Zaha was involved in a fresh diving storm after the Crystal Palace star was booked for simulation in 0-0 draw at Watford. Zaha has been accused of diving several times this season and the Ivory Coast winger once again found himself in the spotlight for alleged gamesmanship at Vicarage Road.
He angered Watford when he tumbled theatrically in a failed bid to win a penalty following Abdoulaye Doucoure’s first half challenge. Zaha escaped a booking for that incident but when he fell again in the Watford penalty area, this time after an Adrian Mariappa tackle, Kavanagh finally produced a yellow card.
The Palace player has been a hate figure to Watford fans since winning the controversial penalty that settled a Championship play-off final between the two clubs in 2015. Last season, Watford mascot Harry the Hornet mocked Zaha by diving in front of him at the end of a league match at Vicarage Road.
Zaha’s antics couldn’t inspire Palace to the win that would have effectively sealed their Premier League status for another season. The Eagles are now 15th, six points clear of the relegation zone with three games left. Watford are without a victory from their past five matches.

Results
Watford 0 Crystal Palace 0
West Bromwich Albion 2 (Livermore 79, Rondon 88) Liverpool 2 (Ings 4, Salah 72)
Today: Arsenal v West Ham (1230 GMT), Stoke v Burnley (1230 GMT), Manchester City v Swansea (1530 GMT)
Tomorrow: Everton v Newcastle (1900 GMT)