Angry Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp criticises Hawthorns pitch and referee after West Brom draw

Klopp was clearly unhappy following the game, having named a strong line-up in an effort to maintain momentum ahead of the Champions League semi-final first leg with Roma

Jurgen Klopp was unhappy several decisions in the game (Getty Images)

Jurgen Klopp was unhappy with the dry surface at The Hawthorns as Liverpool let a two-goal lead slip to draw 2-2 with West Brom on Saturday.

Goals by Danny Ings and Mohamed Salah sent Liverpool two goals clear and seemingly cruising towards three points, but the Baggies hit back with goals by Jake Livermore and late equaliser from Salomon Rondon to continue their improvement under caretaker manager Darren Moore, despite their impending relegation which could be sealed on Sunday.

Klopp was clearly unhappy following the game, having named a strong line-up in an effort to maintain momentum ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final first leg against Roma.

“I know what people will think about it if I say it, but the pitch got drier and drier, which is not an advantage for the football-playing side,” said Klopp. “You could see that with the second chance Danny had.

“I’m a big football fan. You have to try to do everything to make the best circumstances for all the boys to deliver. But we let the home team decide whether they water the pitch or not. It’s not just for football but also it is dangerous for injuries if the pitch is dry. A hundred per cent, I wouldn’t have said anything about that if we had won but this is all what I see during the game.”

Moore defending the surface, and insisted West Brom had not deliberately left the pitch under-watered.

“It wasn’t a ploy,” he said. “It was a really hot day today. I was so engrossed in the game in terms of preparation my focus wasn’t about the pitch, it was about getting a team together to play against an excellent team.”

Klopp was frustrated with the referee Stuart Attwell, who turned down a penalty shout from Ings and missed Ahmed Hegazi punch the striker in the stomach, and the manger added that it was a “strange situation” to concede points to a team who he said didn’t need them.

“Was it a penalty? Yes. Hegazi on Ings is a red card? Yes. I think the same, we agree. So you can see it, I can see it, but that’s not important. All that is important is what the three or four gentlemen with the whistles think.

“If you play a Premier League where only set-pieces are allowed, West Brom for sure would not be going to the Championship. I don’t think that point will help West Brom massively, so it feels like a waste of points really. They don’t need it, we do need it. They are happy, we are not happy, we stay in the league, they do not. It makes for a strange situation!”