Pictures and analysis of Liverpool 0 West Brom 2
If Steve Clarke ever gets bored of football, West Brom's boss might went to give crisis management a try.
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If Steve Clarke ever gets bored of football, West Brom's boss might went to give crisis management a try.
The Baggies arrived at Anfield a club in turmoil and left a team reinvigorated by another stunning triumph against Liverpool.
If a trying fortnight left Clarke's side in chaos ahead of the trip to Merseyside, it appeared someone forgot to tell his players.
Or perhaps the mayhem simply brought them closer together as they mounted a superb effort for a second straight triumph at Anfield.
Inspired by magnificent goalkeeper Ben Foster and aided by a marvellous reunion of their first-choice midfield trio, Albion soaked up the pressure before hitting Brendan Rodgers' side decisively on the break twice in the second half.
Gareth McAuley's header on 81 minutes and Romelu Lukaku's stoppage-time strike might have come a little out of nowhere after the home side had enjoyed the clearer chances.
But they gave the Baggies deserved reward for a fantastic rearguard action, encapsulated by a series of magical Foster saves including one from a dubiously-awarded penalty and another one-handed stunner from the same man, Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard.
It ensured a third straight victory for Albion against the Reds with six goals scored and none conceded.
After years of Liverpool dominance in the fixture, the Baggies are fast-becoming their bogey side.
After a troubling fortnight of player indiscipline and unwanted headlines, a trip to Anfield – and another landmark victory – was the perfect tonic. It was great reward, too, for Clarke, who has stepped up magnificently to the multiple controversies that have blighted his side and coincided with a worrying run.
After handling his media duties with aplomb in the eye of a storm, the Hawthorns head coach tasted victory on his first return to the club that dispensed with his services as assistant boss last summer.
Albion started brightly but they suffered an early scare when Liam Ridgewell, restored to the team in place of the suspended Goran Popov, failed to control a high diagonal ball.
The Baggies full-back presented possession to Luis Suarez, who sent a half-volley just wide.
There was a further let-off for Clarke's men on nine minutes when Foster spilled a left-foot shot from Glen Johnson into the path of Jonjo Shelvey, who found the net with a follow-up but had his celebrations cut short by an offside flag.
The Reds went close twice more, first when Daniel Agger headed over from a Stewart Downing corner and then when Downing's 35-yard piledriver proved too hot for Foster to handle, although the Albion No.1 claimed it at the second attempt.
The Reds were having the clearer chances but the Baggies were playing their part in decent game played out in a flat Anfield atmosphere.
And, as the first half drew to a close frustrations began to mount in the home camp, especially when they saw Reid receive a huge slice of luck. The Baggies full-back tried a left-footed clearance from a Shelvey cross, only to play the ball onto his standing foot and watch it loop up narrowly over the bar.
The Baggies made an encouraging start to the second half but they had to be resolute to keep the Reds at bay. First, two vital tackles on the edge of the area halted a weaving run towards goal by Downing.
And when the ball broke to Gerrard, Foster made a brave block low down at the Liverpool captain's feet.
Moments later Foster was his side's saviour again when he made a fine, instinctive save to keep out Jordan Henderson's flick after an overlapping run and cross from Johnson.
The Hawthorns No.1 was soon back in the action when an impeccable piece of handling saw him claim a Fabio Borini shot at full-stretch.
And, moments later, a sprawling block from McAuley denied the increasingly influential Suarez an excellent shooting chance.
Foster's finest moment so far arrived with 19 minutes remaining when, while heading in the wrong direction, he flung out his right hand to keep out a goalbound effort from Gerrard.
The Baggies keeper put the icing on the cake four minutes later when he guessed right to keep out Gerrard's penalty after a poor decision by referee Jonathan Moss to penalise Jonas Olsson.
The Swede came together with Suarez, who went to ground easily, but Foster's latest brilliance denied the Reds as he saved low to his left.
And the Baggies' Northern Ireland connection combined with nine minutes remaining to twist the knife in Suarez's back.
McAuley steamed in unmarked to rocket home a header from countryman Brunt's right-wing corner.
That sent Baggies fans into raptures but they were in dreamland when Lukaku wrapped up victory, collecting Morrison pass and side-stepping Agger before rifling home to cap a textbook away display.
By Steve Madeley
