Liverpool dropped their first home Premier League points this season against West Brom.
Sadio Mane opened the scoring on 12 minutes after receiving a good pass from Joel Matip before chesting the ball and volleying past Sam Johnstone.
But the visitors headed an equaliser just eight minutes from time, when Semi Ajayi converted Matheus Pereira’s corner via Alisson’s right-hand post.
Here were the key talking points from Anfield:
Klopp caught cold by Big Sam again
There was good reason why Jurgen Klopp has not willingly thrown Liverpool’s hat into the ring for this season’s Premier League title race just yet.
Such grandstanding tends to backfire and the German would have been left with egg on his face in making that bold forecast before West Brom’s visit.
Sam Allardyce lulled his hosts into a false sense of security in a first half where the statistics reflected his side’s current, precarious top flight status.
The visitors failed to command barely 20 per cent possession and managed just 46 accurate passes – a feat which was surpassed by seven Reds’ players.
But the Baggies came flying out the traps after the break and produced a classic Allardyce performance that ultimately produced a hard-fought point.
Liverpool, admittedly, should have put them to the sword while they had the chance and will rue dropping their first league points on home soil this term.
Klopp is under no illusions that the champions are still to reach top gear in their title defence. In hindsight, exercising caution was the right approach.
Solution to unreliable Matip needed
Liverpool’s defensive crisis has been made worse by Joel Matip’s unreliability.
For the second time already this season, the Cameroon international failed to complete back-to-back Premier League matches that he originally started.
A groin injury was behind Matip’s latest withdrawal on the hour mark as academy graduate Rhys Williams was called upon to fill the centre-back void.
With Joe Gomez’s own fitness issues also well-documented, the temptation for Klopp to look elsewhere for solutions to the position is growing stronger.
He may not need to look too far in the search for Virgil van Dijk’s established partner at the heart of defence with several options already in the equation.
Fabinho, who has operated as stand-in during the Dutchman’s absence, appears a viable solution beyond less experienced candidates in the squad.
Excellent a defender as Matip has been, his inability to physically stay the course has become a problem which needs solving in Liverpool’s defence.
Thiago’s return will prove timely
Klopp’s most influential player is the one who has barely played this season.
Thiago Alcantara made just two appearances before succumbing to a knee injury in October’s Merseyside derby which sidelined him for two months.
Absence has seen the Spain international’s stock rise exponentially. This result underlines why he will be a valuable commodity when available again.
It is not the first time Liverpool missed Thiago, as a 7-2 thrashing by Aston Villa during his initial absence with a positive Covid-19 diagnosis attests.
The 29-year-old came in to be a game changer who would seize control of the midfield battle; something West Brom largely won during the second half.
Another unforeseen setback for Naby Keita prevented the Reds from utilising a player of similar qualities, if not equal proficiency in the middle of the park.
All the more reason for Thiago to make a timely recovery to fill the void.
Shot-shy Reds need a tune up
An all-singing attack remains arguably Liverpool’s greatest strength. When they are off-key, however, the end result is somewhat underwhelming.
Sadio Mane’s well-taken opener appeared to have set his team on course for an impressive 41st home win in all competitions and 42 unbeaten overall.
The Senegalese’s goal streak at Anfield has become a lucky omen and the latest elevated him to the club’s joint fifth highest Premier League scorer.
Yet sharing the stage with Luis Suarez, both on 69 strikes apiece, proved to be as good as it got for Mane and the rest of Liverpool’s attacking trident.
Two efforts on target in the entire game tells its own story with Roberto Firmino’s late header, repelled by Sam Johnstone, being the other attempt.
From last weekend’s loud and proud showing at Crystal Palace to this muted offering against West Brom, Klopp’s front men are in need of a tune up.