ODDSTRACKER: After Liverpool’s last gasp win in the most unlikeliest of ways on Sunday, we track the odds from start to finish.
Given the relative importance of Sunday afternoon’s fixture between West Brom and Liverpool, the vast majority expected nothing more than an away victory for last season’s Premier League champions – and while they were right, no-one could have predicted the way in which it occurred.
We’ve relieved the dramatic finish at the Hawthorns in this week’s Oddstracker.
With Liverpool knowing the match against the already relegated Baggies was a must-win in order to keep their hopes of finishing in the Champions League alive, an away victory was expected at just 1.22 as the two sides kicked off.
West Brom, with little to play for, were the huge outsiders at 13, while a draw was priced at 6.5.
However, despite some early pressure from Liverpool it was Sam Allardyce’s side who went in front thanks to a Hal Robson-Kanu goal.
The unexpected saw West Brom shorten significantly to 5 and the draw to 3.8, although the Reds were very much still expected to win at just 1.67.
And those odds looked justified 17 minutes later as Mohamed Salah, hungry for goals as he bids to win the league’s Golden Boot, smashed a loose ball into the net.
Despite that, West Brom held out until half-time with the hosts 13 to win, Liverpool 1.36 and the draw 4.25.
With Jurgen Klopp’s side dominating possession, there only appeared to be one winner, but in the style of much of their season, those theories were totally wrong.
A header from a corner saw West Brom go in front once again, but in controversial scenes the goal was ruled out for offside.
Having been just 2.4 when the goal went in, West Brom were now 15 to win, Liverpool, struggling to create clear cut opportunities, 1.8, and the draw now 3.6.
Reds fans would have hoped that would have given their side a bit of momentum, but despite creating a number of chances, they couldn’t breach the home side’s defence.
The clock ticked on and as the game went into injury time, only one result looked like happening.
A draw was now only 1.17, with Liverpool out to 6 and West Brom 26, but as we know in the Premier League, it’s quite often best to expect the unexpected.
And the unexpected certainly happened shortly afterwards.
With a draw not enough, Liverpool’s goalkeeper Alisson made his way into the penalty area ahead of a Trent Alexander-Arnold corner and in sensational scenes the big Brazilian stooped highest to nod the ball into the far corner, cueing wild celebrations on and off the pitch.
Champions League football isn’t in the bag yet, but this vital win goes a long way to securing Liverpool’s place for next season.
