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It seemed an unlikely outcome after Sadio Mane overtook Liverpool after just 12 minutes with the visitor forced to return to their own half for long periods.
But in the second half Albion offered more threat and, with eight minutes to go, Nigerian international Semi Ajayi rose to head a cross from Matheus Pereira. It was Ajayi’s first goal in the Premier League.
Liverpool went ahead in search of a late winner, but West Brom goalkeeper Sam Johnstone made an impressive save with the tip of his finger to avoid Roberto Firmino’s header.
Firmino scored the last winning goal in the previous home clash against Tottenham Hotspur as Liverpool rose to the top, but there was no repetition.
Allardyce, who replaced Slaven Bilic at West Brom, has never been in charge of a relegated side. He has an excellent team management record at Anfield, undefeated in four games with three different clubs, including a visiting coach’s last win with Crystal Palace in April 2017.
Goalkeeper hero Johnstone recognized the difference Allardyce made since he took office.
“Everyone knows what the coach is like. He has come in and things change very quickly and the boys are reacting.
“It’s a new administration, new things and we go ahead and believe in ourselves,” he told Sky Sports.
“West Brom deserved the point tonight because we didn’t finish the game. It’s hard to create. In the end, everyone knows and feels that we should have done better,” he told Sky Sports.
The result leaves his team three points ahead of Merseyside rivals Everton, with a host of other clubs in contact distance amid a hectic string of holiday matches.
Liverpool started the game, the only one played in front of a local audience with other clubs under coronavirus restrictions, in the spirit of excess goals. Senegalese star Mane took advantage of a period of intense pressure by controlling Joel Matip’s strong pass to his chest before taking a shot at Johnstone.
Other goals may have followed, but the Baggies held their ground and Liverpool came out of the boil, unable to put Johnstone to the test.
West Brom showed a little more ambition after the break and could have leveled when Karlan Grant came in behind young Rhys Williams, a second-half substitute for the injured Matip, but Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker turned him off with his legs.
But the warning signs were there when Ajayi found room to steer his EQ out of the wood and into the net.
Leeds overtakes Burnley
Earlier, Leeds solidified their place in the middle of the table when Patrick Bamford’s penalty resolved a 1-0 win over Burnley.
Bamford converted from the point in five minutes after being brought down by Nick Pope, his 10th goal of the season.
Burnley felt awful when Ashley Barnes seemed to equalize in the 19th minute. French Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier came out to claim a high ball, but lost it after hitting the back of Burnley’s Ben Mee. Barnes grounded the ball at goal, but the goal was disallowed when referee Robert Jones fouled Mee and awarded a free kick to Leeds.
The visiting players were outraged that the video assistant referee could not be referred because Jones had fouled before the ball hit the net.
Meslier, maintaining his fifth clean sheet of the season, avoided a late effort by Barnes to preserve three points for Marcelo Bielsa’s men.
The other match on Sunday afternoon saw a 2-2 draw between West Ham and Brighton, with the visitor leading twice at the London Stadium only to be retained both times.
Neal Maupay put Brighton deservedly ahead just before halftime, but the Hammers tied at the hour mark with Ben Johnson’s first goal for the club.
Lewis Dunk appeared to have won it for Brighton when he converted from a corner kick, with West Ham appealing to handball, but Tomas Soucek scored another crucial goal, the fourth of the season, when he headed unmarked from a corner.
The result leaves Brighton languishing two points behind the relegation zone with West Ham in 10th place.
José Mourinho’s Tottenham are playing for Wolves on the late kickoff, hoping to get back on the winning track after two straight losses, including the reverse at Liverpool.
