LIVERPOOL: Liverpool's hopes of opening up a menacing five-point lead at the top of the Premier League were scuppered in unlikely fashion as struggling West Bromwich Albion snatched a 1-1 draw at Anfield to leave manager Juergen Klopp scowling on Sunday (Dec 27).
Leading through Sadio Mane's early goal, Klopp's side appeared to be heading for an eighth successive home league win but a late header by Semi Ajayi left Liverpool frustrated.
Not that the weekend's most odd result will cause Klopp a sleepless night, even though it left them with only a three-point lead over neighbours Everton.
With Leicester City and Manchester United sharing the spoils on Saturday, Tottenham Hotspur had the chance to move into third spot on Sunday but conceded a late goal in a 1-1 draw away to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Liverpool lead the standings with 32 points from 15 games, with Everton on 29, Leicester on 28 and United on 27.
Tottenham have 26 points alongside Manchester City.
Leeds United beat Burnley 1-0 on Sunday with an early penalty by Patrick Bamford while Brighton and Hove Albion twice led at West Ham United but had to settle for a 2-2 draw with Tomas Soucek scoring late on for the hosts.
The hectic Christmas programme continues on Monday with the standout game being Everton's home clash with Manchester City.
Klopp criticised West Brom's defensive approach at Anfield but what soured the taste of his Christmas was the way his side tossed away two points by failing to kill off the game.
"The problem that I have is I think West Brom deserved the point -- it's our fault, but they deserved a point in the second half," Klopp conceded.
"We don't live in dream-land and just win football matches because we want to win them: we have to work for it and we have to play for it and we have to finish the situations off and we have to pass in the right moments."
Klopp's mood was hardly helped by a groin injury to central defender Joel Matip - one of his few options with Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez long-term absentees.
"It is a massive worry but it is not a new worry," former Liverpool defender and Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher said, saying Klopp must sign a defender in January.
Player ratings
Liverpool: Alisson (7), Alexander-Arnold (6), Matip (7), Fabinho (6), Robertson (7), Henderson (6), Wijnaldum (6), Jones (6), Salah (5), Mane (7), Firmino (5).
Subs: Williams (5), Oxlade-Chamberlain (6), Origi (6).
West Brom: Johnstone (7), Furlong (8), Ajayi (8), O’Shea (8), Gibbs (7), Phillips (7), Sawyers (7), Gallagher (6), Diangana (6), Robinson (7), Grant (6).
Subs: Pereira (7), Austin (6), Ivanovic (6)
Man of the match: Darnell Furlong
Opta stats:
West Brom manager Sam Allardyce is unbeaten in each of his last four Premier League games at Anfield (W1 D3), each coming while in charge at a different club (Sunderland, Crystal Palace, Everton, West Brom).
Liverpool have failed to win six of their 15 Premier League games this season (W9 D5 L1), as many as they did in the entirety of last season in the league (W32 D3 L3).
Having picked up just one point from their opening six away league games this season (D1 L5), West Brom have since earned two from their last two on the road away to Manchester City and Liverpool (D2).
Liverpool failed to win for only the second time in their last 34 home league games (W32 D2), also drawing 1-1 with Burnley in July of last season.
Sadio Mané scored his 69th Premier League goal for Liverpool, moving him level with Luis Suárez and behind only Robbie Fowler (128), Steven Gerrard (120), Michael Owen (118) and Mohamed Salah (86) for most goals in the competition for the Reds.
Among defenders since the start of the 2018-19 season, only Virgil van Dijk and Aaron Pierre (both nine) have scored more headed league goals in England's top four tiers than West Brom's Semi Ajayi (eight).
While West Brom remain in deep trouble having picked up only eight points from 15 games, the result will give the fans some hope that new manager Sam Allardyce, who has never experienced relegation with 11 previous clubs, can inspire a great escape.
TOTTENHAM 1-1 WOLVES
Jose Mourinho's Tottenham have now gone four games without a Premier League win and once again their defensive tactics came under scrutiny against Wolves.
Tottenham were given a perfect start when Tanguy Ndomeble thumped home a shot after 57 seconds but they spent most of the game thereafter soaking up Wolves pressure.
Romain Saiss' late goal earned a well-deserved 1-1 draw for Wolves after Tanguy Ndombele had put Tottenham ahead inside a minute.
It was almost a classic Jose Mourinho performance once again from Tottenham, as Ndombele send a low, hard strike past Rui Patricio after 57 seconds. They then sat back and soaked up plenty of Wolves pressure, having only one shot in the second half and their last shot on target in the 21st minute.
Wolves almost snatched all three points when Fabio Silva headed a glorious chance straight at Hugo Lloris.
"One point against Wolves normally wouldn't be a bad result because they are a strong opponent," Mourinho said.
"But scoring in the first minute and having 89 minutes to score more, there's a sense of feeling frustrated. We didn't have that ambition or desire to go for more", he said.
TABLE STANDINGS:
OTHER EPL RESULTS: 
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