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Liverpool were limited to a frustrating 1-1 draw against West Bromwich Albion on Sunday at Anfield.
Semi Ajayi scored a late draw to cancel Sadio Mane’s opener in the first half as Liverpool failed to open a five-point lead at the top.
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Liverpool also suffered another injury when Joel Matip limped off with a groin injury in the second half.
West Brom earned his first point with new boss Sam Allardyce, but remains in the relegation zone.
It also snapped Liverpool’s seven-game win streak at home when Allardyce, beaten 3-0 by Aston Villa in their debut last Sunday, reinvigorated West Brom’s hopes of avoiding relegation from the top flight.
Liverpool dominated possession from the first minute and opened the scoring in the 12th minute when Matip hit the ball to Mane, who lowered it with his chest and fired a shot that passed West Brom goalkeeper Sam Johnstone.
After the goal, the hosts couldn’t muster many clear chances, but full-backs Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold provided a constant threat with their crosses into the box.
By halftime Liverpool had enjoyed 87% possession and no West Brom player had completed more than eight passes.
The visitors provided a better threat in the second half and received a boost after Matip limped away after 59 minutes.
Liverpool remained frustrated and West Brom nearly leveled when Karlan Grant passed, but Alisson blocked his shot.
West Brom leveled in the 82nd minute when Ajayi headed in after a cross from Matheus Pereira.
Roberto Firmino missed a chance in the 90th minute to snatch a victory from Liverpool when Johnstone somehow took his header from close range and spun it around the post.
“When you relax, you get what you deserve,” Robertson told Sky Sports. “When you go up against a Sam Allardyce team, you know they will stay with it and take the only opportunity they get.
“We created chances in the first half and then in the second half it was like we didn’t want to do it again. We all made a mistake in the second half that can’t happen.
“We will take the point and move on. We can’t stop at that, but it’s a huge disappointment.”
