While although the Premier League has not perhaps conjured up as much drama as usual this season, the scriptwriters know when to deliver when it matters most. Of course, that is also a statement that can be applied to Liverpool over the weekend.
Because although the now former Premier League champions find themselves lying fifth in the table with two rounds to go, a top four finish is still very much in their own hands and that is down to one man in particular.
Ironically, it is the man who is permitted to use his hands who has subsequently given Liverpool hope and although Alisson Becker is known for stopping goals at one end, he is not known for scoring at the other.
With West Brom playing host to Liverpool on Sunday, all the West Midlands outfit could do was act as the role of spoiler and with Big Sam Allardyce at their managerial helm, that is a role he has played plenty of times before.
While it looked like being more of the same after only 15 minutes, as Wales international Hal Robson-Kanu opened the scoring at The Hawthorns and at that point, Liverpool’s hopes of a Champions League invite next season were hanging by a thread.
However, the Merseyside men would manage to restore parity 18 minutes later and with Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah once again showing just how incisive he can be, the two sides would be deadlocked at the interval.
On the evidence of Liverpool’s afternoon, it was one that was largely frustrating and the longer the clock ticked, the more you felt that it would be West Brom who could earn themselves maximum points.
Something that looked like being the case when Kyle Bartley stabbed home from a corner and although there were celebrations from the West Brom contingent, they were short lived by a controversial VAR call.
One that came after teammate Matt Phillips was adjudged to have blocked Alisson’s line of sight and although it did seem to be somewhat harsh, there was also a sense that justice had prevailed in the end.
That moment of fortune offered Liverpool something of a late impetus and although they had chances as the clock moved past 95 minutes and counting, there was a sense that Jurgen Klopp and his men would have to make do with just a point.
That was until the ridiculous happened and with Alisson given permission to go up for a late corner, he was then seemingly given the freedom of the West Brom penalty area. Freedom, that then created one of the most incredible moments of any Premier League season.
The Brazilian goalkeeper headed home a dramatic late winner for his side and with Leicester and Chelsea squaring off in midweek, there will be dropped points from at least one of these F.A. Cup finalists.
Which means Liverpool are now in the perfect position to pounce and if they win both their remaining league fixtures this week, they will snatch a Champions League berth from either the Foxes or the Blues.
