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Live Commentary: Liverpool 0-2 West Bromwich Albion - as it happened

Read how West Brom stunned Liverpool late on at Anfield to pick up their first win in eight games.
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Liverpool welcomed a horribly out-of-form West Brom to Anfield on Monday evening looking to avenge a 3-0 mauling on the opening day of the season at the Hawthorns.

The Reds were shocked, however, by two late goals from the Baggies as Steve Clarke's side put an end to a run of eight games without a win.

Read how it all unfolded in our minute-by-minute updates below.


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Evening all! The final game of the weekend is between two sides who love to attack. Let's not waste any time, the team news is just coming in...

BREAKING WEST BROM TEAM NEWS! Romelu Lukaku drops to the bench as Youssouf Mulumbu returns.

WEST BROM XI: Foster; Reid, McAuley, Olsson, Ridgewell; Mulumbu, Yacob; Dorrans, Morrison, Brunt; Long

Box-to-box midfielder Mulumbu has missed the last four games because of a knee injury and he comes back to shore up the Baggies' midfield.

In defence, Liam Ridgewell, as expected, replaces Goran Popov who is serving a three-match ban for spitting in the direction of Spurs defender Kyle Walker last weekend.

BREAKING LIVERPOOL TEAM NEWS! Jonjo Shelvey starts ahead of Joe Allen while Jamie Carragher continues ahead of Martin Skrtel in defence.

LIVERPOOL XI: Reina; Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Enrique; Henderson, Lucas, Shelvey, Downing; Gerrard; Suarez

As you can see, Daniel Sturridge has failed to overcome a thigh problem and there's no place for the in-form frontman in Rodgers's squad of 18.

Stewart Downing is again preferred to either Raheem Sterling or Fabio Borini. It also looks like Jordan Henderson may be playing from the right.

There's also a place on the home side's bench for January signing Coutinho. Would be great to see a bit of him later. Here are the two substitute benches:

Liverpool: Jones, Wisdom, Skrtel, Allen, Borini, Sterling, Coutinho
West Brom: Myhill, Lukaku, Fortune, Jones, Rosenberg, Tamas, Thomas

There's also no Peter Odemwingie in the West Brom squad whatsoever. There's been plenty of photoshopped images on Twitter today of the Nigerian turning up at the Vatican to try and force through a move to be the next Pope!

Liverpool are boasting a very impressive form record of late. They're fourth in our form guide and although they've drawn the last two, those games were away at Arsenal and Manchester City. This upturn in form has been helped by the performances of Steven Gerrard. He's the only midfielder to play every minute of every league match this season and he's already equalled his best-ever assist total for a Premier League season with nine.

Luis Suarez has also been on top form this term. He's two goals behind Manchester United's Robin van Persie in the goal charts and is the most shot-happy player in the league. The Uruguayan averages an attempt at goal every 21 minutes.

It's not just their attacking prowess that has helped of late. The Reds' defence has been giving up very little recently, especially at home. They have kept five clean sheets in their last six Premier League matches at Anfield including the last three in a row. With Steve Clarke leaving Lukaku in the bench, it's hard to see where the West Brom goals might come from tonight.

It will be extremely tough for West Brom to keep out Liverpool completely tonight as they've only kept one clean sheet in their last 29 league trips away from the Hawthorns. However, that one shutout was in their 1-0 win at Anfield in April 2012. Can they repeat that success tonight? The bookmakers don't think so as their price is at about 8/1 at the moment. Worth a couple of quid?

All those stats below were courtesy of @OptaJoe on Twitter and he's just given us another cracker...

As alluded to above, West Brom's form is currently the worst in the league. Here's how Opta breaks that down: "1 - If the PL season had started on December 1, WBA would be 2nd bottom, Liverpool would be 5 pts off 2nd with a game in hand. Contrast."

Although in-form Lukaku has been dropped tonight, the return of Mulumbu is definitely a boost for the Baggies. The energetic midfielder was one of the key reasons for West Brom's stellar start to the season that means they're still not out of contention for European qualification.

Just one place and two points separate tonight's two teams, with Liverpool eighth and West Brom ninth. A win for Liverpool tonight would see them close the gap to their Merseyside neighbours Everton in sixth to three points.

Both managers have been speaking to Sky Sports News. Rodgers said this of Sturridge: "Daniel was too much of a risk tonight. He should be fine for next week's game (against Swansea on Sunday)." The Reds manager has been pleased with his side's performances of late too.

Clarke says: " I think it's a game we go into with very little pressure on us. Everyone is expecting a Liverpool win tonight." The Baggies manager is happy that the hustling duo of Mulumbu and Yacob have been reunited as well: "It's been a while since we've had both Yacob and Mulumbu in midfield doing what they do best - breaking up the play."

Clarke is right to be happy that Yacob and Mulumbu are back together. In this season's 25 games they have played together on 13 occasions and helped the team pick up 23 points in those matches. In the 12 games they haven't both been present just 11 points have been gained.

PREDICTION: With just under 10 minutes until kickoff it's time for my prediction. I'm going with the masses and a Liverpool win. The Reds should get it done by at least two goals and I think it will be 3-1, with Suarez bagging two and Shelvey getting one.

Wow, this stat from Opta just shows how much Liverpool rely on Suarez in the area: "122 - Luis Suarez has had 283 touches in the opposition penalty area in the PL this season, 122 more than any other player (Van Persie, 161). Busy."

REFEREE WATCH: Tonight's man in charge is Jon Moss.

If West Brom can pick up a shock win tonight then it will be the first time they've done the double over Liverpool since the 1966-67 season.

Both sides are ready and waiting in the tunnel. Minutes until the off.

Both sides are playing in their home kits tonight, with Liverpool all in red and West Brom in navy-and-white stripes, white shorts and white socks.

Pre-match handshakes done, rousing chorus of You'll Never Walk Alone, done. Here we go.

KICKOFF: The Baggies get us underway.

Nothing to report in the opening two minutes. Mulumbu has already shown that he's not afraid to go in for tackle or four.

The game has stopped as Dorrans receives treatment after landing awkwardly on his back. He'll be OK to continue.

Some really nice passing from West Brom comes to an end as Ridgewell's well-hit cross is gathered by Reina. Liverpool yet to go into the visitors' half really.

Now they have a venture forward as Ridgewell plucks Gerrard's pass out of the air but it falls to Suarez. Liverpool's main man goes for an audacious volley from 25 yards and it's well wide.

Mulumbu steals the ball from Lucas and tries to thread it through to Long but the Irishman was offside.

DISALLOWED! Johnson is getting forward a lot in the early stages and a cross of his is blocked and bounces up kindly for him. He takes it on first time with a left-foot volley and Foster can only parry straight into the path of Shelvey who tucks it home. However, the midfielder was well offside.

Gerrard has a bit of space in the inside-right channel and he has a shot from 25 yards but drags it slightly and Foster sees it wide.

Not a lot had happened in the past five minutes but Liverpool almost carved out a chance just then. Gerrard elected not to shoot, instead laying to Suarez who in turn found Downing but his dinked cross was headed away.

This is better from Liverpool. Suarez shows off his world-class feet for the first time in the match by outpacing two Baggies defenders and then flashing a wonderful 'rabona' cross across goal. It's well defended by West Brom though.

If you're wondering what a rabona is, here's a YouTube compilation of them with some head-banging rock music:


That got the crowd going. Liverpool neatly get out of trouble in their own corner before Shelvey picks out Downing on the right and he outpaces Ridgewell before his cross is cleared out for a corner.

From the resulting set piece Agger gets a free head at goal and Foster tips it over. Replays show that the West Brom keeper didn't actually need to as it was going over. No bother anyway as nothing comes of the next corner.

SHOT! Downing unleashes a rocket of a shot from 30 yards that Foster can only parry up into the air before catching at the second attempt.

Liverpool have a free kick 40 yards out in the middle and Gerrard lays it off to Agger but his shot is blocked.

Mulumbu fizzes over a great low cross from the right that's just slightly ahead of the onrushing Brunt. Neither side yet to create a clear-cut opening as we reach a third of the game.

Suarez is found in behind the West Brom defence but for once his touch is heavy and Olsson is able to get in to clear for a corner.

CHANCE! Gerrard takes it short to Downing and he fires it in across the area and somehow an unmarked Agger fails to make contact with it.

Oh dear. Gerrard reverses it into Downing and he cleverly flicks it on to Suarez. Downing wants the return pass but Suarez uses his run as a decoy to open up space for a shot before slicing high and wide.

CLOSE! Suarez's cross is picked up by Shelvey at the back post and he drives to the byline before firing it across goal. There's actually no Liverpool player anywhere near it but Reid's hacked clearance hits his standing leg and pops up just over his own crossbar.

YELLOW! Jon Moss has to caution a player for the first time as Reid scythes down Suarez on the left.

Just as one minute is added on at the end of the first half, Johnson swings over a great cross from the right and it looks like Suarez will have a shot at goal until Olsson hooks out a great clearance with those long legs of his.

HALF-TIME: Liverpool 0-0 West Brom

Not much to say about that half of football in all honesty. West Brom started well but Liverpool have controlled the play since the 15-minute mark and have looked more likely to score.

If you're just joining us and want a concise summary of the opening 45, you can read my good man Barney Corkhill's HT report by clicking here.

The first-half stats in fact favour Liverpool more than the actual play has suggested. The Reds have had 53% of possession but it's the shot count where West Brom look poor. The Baggies haven't registered a single attempt on goal yet while Liverpool have shot nine times, testing Foster on five occasions.

talkSPORT presenter Georgie Bingham thinks that the missing Sturridge is hurting Liverpool tonight. She says on Twitter: "Amazing that Sturridge has become an integral part of the #LFC team so fast. They're really missing him tonight."

The two sides are back out on the pitch, neither manager has made a change.

KICKOFF: Liverpool get the second half underway.

Neat passing from Long, Morrison and Mulumbu allows Dorrans some space on the right but his cross to the above trio is a little high and allows Reina to come and claim.

CHANCE! Johnson sends a pass down the right for Suarez and he manages to pick out Downing on the edge of the area with a cutback. The winger's initial shot is blocked but it comes back to him and he pokes it through for Gerrard who is denied by the sprawling Foster from six yards.

SAVE! At one end Gerrard almost presents Dorrans with a chance by passing across his own box but Liverpool break and come as close as they have done to scoring. Downing runs at Ridgewell and passes on for the overlapping Johnson who slides it across for Henderson. It's a little behind him but he improvises brilliantly with a flick that Foster does well to save low to his right.

West Brom are committing a few more men when they go forward and that's allowing Liverpool more space to counter. Their latest breakaway comes to a disappointing end as Downing's pass to Gerrard is a little overhit and the England captain can only find a West Brom player on the stretch. Time for some subs soon, me thinks.

And yes, Raheem Sterling and Fabio Borini are being readied to come on.

Liverpool steal the ball in midfield and Suarez is up against Olsson in a one-on-one. He goes right before dragging his shot right next to the corner flag!

LIVERPOOL SUBS: Shelvey off, Borini on. Henderson off, Sterling on.

Liverpool have a free kick in a very dangerous position 25 yards out, just left of centre. Suarez or Gerrard?

Suarez takes it on but thwacks it into the top of the wall. The ball pops back to him but his volley is deflected away.

That's now 14 shots (eight on target) for Liverpool while West Brom are still to have one. Only important stat is 0-0, mind.

It's eerily silent inside Anfield as the game lulls majorly. Surely it's gonna go all end-to-end on us soon?

Even more agitation from the Reds' faithful as Enrique doesn't even jog up to take a throw. MORE URGENCY PLEASE.

SAVE! Downing's layoff is perfect for Borini and he decides to have a go with his left. He strikes it very well but Foster does enormously well to keep ahold of the ball at full stretch.

YELLOW! A West Brom corner is headed out by Johnson and Suarez turns it round for Sterling. The young winger looks to break away but is stopped in his tracks cynically by Ridgewell.

Gerrard races a delicious pass into Suarez and his first touch is good but he can't quite get a shot away and the chance goes.

WHAT A SAVE! Liverpool have come alive and this is an amazing stop by Foster. Sterling lays the ball to Gerrard on the edge of the area and he touches it on to his left foot before lashing goalwards. Foster moves to his right but Gerrard shoots more straight at him and somehow the England keeper puts out a strong hand to keep it out.

BOOKINGS! Two West Brom players are booked in quick succession. First Morrison was cautioned for kicking the ball away before Brunt brought down Suarez on the edge of the area. Downing took the free kick but floated it over.

WEST BROM SUB: Clarke brings on Lukaku for Dorrans. Maybe they'll have a shot now?

PENALTY LIVERPOOL!

MISSED BY GERRARD!

Goodness me, it's another brilliant save from Foster as he dives low to his left to deny Gerrard. The penalty was awarded for a, rather soft, push from Olsson on Suarez. Huge moment in the match.

LIVERPOOL SUB: Coutinho will have 10 minutes or so to show what he's about as he comes on for Downing.

SHOT! West Brom have their first effort on goal and what a try from Mulumbu. He hits it on the half volley and Reina keeps it out with a superb save.

GOAL! Liverpool 0-1 West Brom (McAuley)

HOW has this happened?! West Brom take the lead with just their second effort of the game. Brunt swings over the corner and McAuley has way too much space to bullet a header off the underside of of the bar and in.

Has that taken it all out of Liverpool? Rodgers has made all three of his changes, remember. They've got five minutes left.

WEST BROM SUB: Marc-Antoine Fortune replaces the energetic Long, who has run and run all night for very little reward.

Deary me, Johnson is presented with an easy pass but completely miscontrols to gift possession back to West Brom.

SHOT! This is brilliant from Lukaku. He turns his marker inside his own half and sprints away. He only has Agger in front of him and feints left and right before moving it on to his weaker right foot and shooting across goal but wide. Exactly what Clarke will want him to do.

GOAL! Liverpool 0-2 West Brom (Lukaku)

Goodnight Liverpool. Lukaku has been phenomenal since coming on and it's a brilliant goal that seals the game. Mulumbu dispossessed Suarez on the edge of the box before Fortune and Morrison linked up. The latter drove into acres of space and found Lukaku who then goaded Agger into coming closer before dropping his shoulder and easing past him. He only has Reina to beat and calmly strokes it home with his right.

Five minutes were added on, by the way. Liverpool have just appealed for a penalty but Moss is having none of it.

BOOKING! Suarez is angry and gets himself in the book for showing dissent. Fantasy Football managers up and down the country shake their heads.

FULL-TIME: Liverpool 0-2 West Brom

It's a first win in eight games for the Baggies and an end to Liverpool's improved run of late.

It means that the aggregate score between these two sides this season is 5-0 in West Brom's favour. That makes it a first double over the Reds since 1967 and also a second successive win at Anfield.

The win helps West Brom leapfrog back above Liverpool into eighth place in the Premier League.

If you're just joining us and don't want to read through all the updates below, click here for Barney Corkhill's match report.

Thanks for joining Sports Mole tonight, be sure to stick around on site for analysis and reaction overnight and into the morning. Come back tomorrow for the first of the last-16 Champions League ties. See you then!

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West Brom's Peter Odemwingie in action on November 24, 2012
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16Everton3298153248-1627
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19Burnley3348213368-3520
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd3237223084-5416


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