Sam Allardyce led West Brom to a battling point at Anfield despite Liverpool dominating the ball
Sam Allardyce says his West Brom side were more than worthy of a point after frustrating Liverpool at Anfield.
The Reds went into the break having recorded 82 per cent possession and dominated proceedings for much of the game in the final home game of 2020 .
Sadio Mane's 12th-minute goal gave the champions a good platform to build, but they struggled to create much across the game as Allardyce's Baggies defended in numbers and limited their hosts in the final third.
Mane's goal looked to be enough, however, before a cheap corner led to Semi Ajayi equalising for a West Brom side who grew into the game after Joel Matip went off injured with what Jurgen Klopp described as an adductor problem.
Allardyce labelled Liverpool as "one of the best attacking sides in Europe" and hailed his players for their defensive display at the home of the team with the most goals scored in the Premier League this season.
Allardyce said: "We've got a point that no-one outside the dressing room believed we would have.
"Everybody thought 'I wonder how many it's going to be today' particularly after they knocked in seven against Crystal Palace last week.
"But the players were so good today at holding their discipline and defending in a pack as a team and finally, in the end, particularly in the second half, finding a way to attack Liverpool when we got the opportunity.
"We talked about it at half time that we couldn't just keep sitting back and we got better and better as the second half went on, getting out of defence into Liverpool's half and creating two or three chances, one of which was converted by Semi and gave us a great point today."
"Everyone is talking about [the result] as though it is us being lucky you know.
"That wasn't Sam making save after save after save. Sam has got the highest save count in the Premier League today before we came here today and I am not sure he had too many to save today because you've only talked about one (from Firmino).
"So that shows you how good we were at limiting one of the best attacking teams in the country, if not the best attacking team in Europe, and we were limiting our goalkeeper to a few saves today so that is credit to the lads in front of him.
"But also credit to them for trying to break forward more and more as the game went on. I think they sensed they might get something and ultimately they have got a very well-earned point from the game."