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Klopp: We might celebrate another home draw

Klopp and his players salute the Kop following last season's West Brom draw
Klopp and his players salute the Kop following last season's West Brom draw

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp hasn’t ruled out another on-pitch celebration if his team draw with West Bromwich Albion at Anfield this weekend.

Last year Tony Pulis' side claimed a 2-2 draw at Anfield, though the hosts only snatched a point thanks to a stoppage-time leveller from Divock Origi.

Klopp was so delighted with the result that he gathered his players together and orchestrated a full-time celebration in front of the Kop.

This reaction to a point against West Brom was derided by critics, yet Klopp insisted that was merely a consequence of his admiration for every team in the Premier League.

The Reds now have a run of league fixtures against West Brom, Crystal Palace and Watford – games Liverpool all dropped points in last season.

"The differences between the Premier League and all the other leagues in world football is that (there are) big individual qualities in all of these teams," said Klopp. "I think we all know the reason for it and that's the big difference.

"Nobody will go through and have at the end 120 points or something because there are a lot of difficult hurdles to jump over and West Brom is for sure one of them. They fight for every point.

"I respect them all and I showed it last year when we played West Brom. I celebrated the point and it was a little bit surprising for most of the people but I was happy.

"I don't know in this moment if I would celebrate a draw again, it depends on the game we play on Saturday. Everything's possible."

Liverpool currently lie fourth, two points off leaders Manchester City, and they face West Brom at home in Saturday’s 5.30pm kick-off. West Brom are in 12th, seven points behind the Reds.

The Reds' Achilles heel under Klopp last year was their dropped points against the likes of West Brom, who they failed to beat either home or away.

With what many consider a kind run of games until a Merseyside derby just before Christmas, Klopp will be keen for his team not to slip up in fixtures they are expected to win.

The German thinks the key to avoiding complacency setting in is to treat each opponent with the same regard.

"We don't lose or win against another team because of the name or the common history; it's because of performances," he declared.

"That's what we have to do. If we want to be successful we should win a lot of games. First of all, we shouldn't care about the name of the team, where we play them, at home or away, we have to win, we have to win, we have to win; that's how it is.

"For this you need to be lucky in different situations, you need to force it sometimes, always you have to fight for it. I don't make differences between these types of teams."

In addressing his team news, Klopp confirmed that "nobody is ruled out at this moment".

This meas Dutch midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum could be back after a hip problem picked up on international duty which ruled him out of Monday night’s dull 0-0 draw with Manchester United at Anfield.

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