Liverpool miss out on Europa

A much-changed Liverpool missed out on a place in next season’s Europa League after being held 1-1 by West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns on Sunday afternoon.

Salomon Rondon gave the Baggies an early lead after being set up by youngster Jonathan Leko, only for the Reds to equalise through Jordan Ibe’s brilliant solo goal.

However, the draw was not enough to see eighth-placed Liverpool qualify for Europe’s second-tier competition, although they can still progress to the Champions League group stages if they beat Sevilla in Wednesday’s Europa League final.

West Brom, meanwhile, ended the campaign in 14th (although they will slip down a position if Bournemouth beat Manchester United in their rearranged final match) after worryingly failing to win any of their last nine Premier League games.

Not surprisingly, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp made 11 changes from the side that drew 1-1 with Chelsea at Anfield in midweek with Wednesday’s show-piece encounter occupying the German’s mind.

The visitors were also able to welcome back long-term absentees Danny Ings, who has been out with a knee ligament injury since mid-October, and captain Jordan Henderson, who has missed the last five weeks also with a knee problem.

However, Belgian striker Divock Origi had not recovered in time from an ankle injury to join that duo on the substitutes’ bench and must now be a doubt to face the …

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