Albion are all about learning lessons and improving this season.

Shane Duffy might just have offered a vivid example of that in operation with the last goal they scored.

Now they look to show signs of progress at the other end of the field as they aim to interrupt Liverpool’s title charge.

A little more than 13 months ago, Liverpool came to the Amex with their fleet-footed attacking trio of Mo Salah, Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino.

They led Albion a merry dance at the back. Anyone who was there will remember that.

A couple of counter-attacking goals which contributed to their 5-1 win were stunning.

Coutinho’s free-kick under the jumping defensive wall was genius.

The Argus:

Yet the first goal was a simple header from a corner, nodded home by Emre Can. That was maddening for Chris Hughton and his team.

Can rose between Duffy and Glenn Murray to convert Coutinho’s corner and open the scoring on the half-hour.

That was after Murray had shot wide with the best chance of the match’s opening third.

Can was part of what was slightly makeshift back line in the absence of Joe Gomez and Joel Matip and, of course, before the arrival of Virgil Van Dijk.

At that time, the full-back duo of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson was probably considered a little more vulnerable than it would be these days.

As happened last year, Jurgen Klopp is unlikely to name a first-choice back four on Saturday.

This season Liverpool lead the Premier League in set-piece goals with 13 according to stats-based website whoscored.com. Albion are not far behind on 11.

That does not include goals which come more indirectly from set-pieces.

For example, the penalty at Southampton resulting from a foul on Duffy at a corner.

Or Duffy’s control and finish when a ball was played back into him from a corner against Manchester United.

Nor, of course, do the Premier League stats include the cleverly worked corner which brought the third goal of the FA Cup win at Bournemouth.

But it was that goal which possibly underlined the theme of lessons being learnt.

Duffy made a great run away from the ball to lose the marking of Steve Cook at a corner.

When Anthony Knockaert’s flag kick reached him beyond the far post, he opted not to go for goal from quite a tight angle.

Instead he nodded the ball into the goalmouth, where Florin Andone scored.

As he did so, it was easy to remember a conversation Duffy had with The Argus in the corridors beneath the cavernous stands at the London Stadium after the 2-2 draw at West Ham.

Duffy scored at the far post with a control and finish to put his side 2-0 up that night.

The Argus:

But, as he left the changing room and headed for the team bus, he was thinking about a header he put wide in the closing stages which could have secured an away win.

He told the Argus: “I’m more disappointed with that one than (pleased with) the goal. I think the goal was harder.

“I got above him and even if I don’t hit the target, I should head it back across.

“I was more frustrated by that.”

He put that right at the Vitality Stadium.

Albion conceded too many set-piece goals last season and did not score enough.

So far this term, that has been rectified at both ends of the pitch.

Duffy told The Argus: “Last year we conceded a lot more than we thought we were going to.

“This year we have done a few things. The gaffer works hard on it.

“We don’t concede many and we put them away so it’s good.

“Set-pieces at any level of football are massive.

“It’s helping us at the minute this season and, hopefully, that can continue.”

Now comes the biggest test from set plays at the defensive end.

Their work will have been tailored to what Liverpool do well at both ends of the pitch.

Remember Liverpool also scored a fairly routine headed goal from a cross when the sides met at Anfield at the end of last season.

Dejan Lovren soared above Gaetan Bong to convert Robertson’s precise delivery.

Duffy said: “The gaffer gets us to work on the other team’s weaknesses so the work we do is different every game.

“Credit to the staff - they put a lot of work in. It’s down to them really. The gaffer gets us working hard.”

If Duffy’s quick-thinking at the Vitality Stadium is anything to go by, they will have learnt from any mistakes.