| REDS RELEGATE BAGGIES WITH 2-0 WIN Goals from Steven Gerrard and Dirk Kuyt ensured Liverpool will end 2008-09 with their highest ever Premier League points tally. The 2-0 victory means the Reds have now amassed 83 this term, one more than in 2005-06. Strikes either side of the break also ended any lingering hopes of survival for a plucky West Brom side.
While there is no consolation for missing out on the title following United's draw against Arsenal, Rafa Benitez will take heart from the fact his team took the race to the penultimate weekend, a feat not achieved by any of his three predecessors.
It was a West Brom side fighting for their Premier League lives who created all the early chances here, notably when Jonathan Greening forced a superb low save from Pepe Reina after a far-post corner.
The Baggies skipper continued to lead by example, nutmegging Javier Mascherano before firing a wicked ball across the area which Reina somehow managed to divert.
It was already turning out to be one of the busiest of Reina's 50 appearances this term as his teammates struggled to find their rhythm against a team desperate not to be playing Championship football in 2009-10.
Next, Kuyt had to display all of his defensive qualities to head clear a Chris Brunt cross as Juan Carlos Menseguez lurked.
Liverpool had yet to muster a serious opportunity when they opened the scoring on 28 minutes. It came when Gerrard pounced on sloppy possession from Shelton Martis, strode into the box and sliced beyond Dean Kiely.
A distraught Martis was consoled by his teammates as the newly-crowed Footballer of the Year pondered his 24th strike of a memorable campaign, one more than his previous best tally.
Tony Mowbray's men almost conjured an instant reply when Carragher slipped to let Marc-Antoine Fortune through on goal before Daniel Agger intervened with a fine interception.
But it was Liverpool for whom half-time came too soon as they began to demonstrate some of their relentless end-of-season form.
First, Kiely added to a weekend of fine saves, tipping a flicked header from Torres onto the roof of the net. The goalkeeper's good work was almost immediately undone when he spilled a 25-yard drive from Agger, with Yossi Benayoun's bid to capitalise thwarted by an offside flag.
The half ended in controversy as Gerrard squared up to Jonas Olsson after being denied a penalty following a barge to the ground.
West Brom regained some impetus as the sides came out for the second half, with Menseguez testing Reina with a low drive after a mistake from Lucas.
Even worse for the visitors was the sight of Mascherano limping to the touchline on 51 minutes with a knock sustained late in the first period.
His replacement, Xabi Alonso, nearly had an instant impact with a lovely ball to Torres, who found a yard before blasting wide with his right foot.
The Spain international was again sent clear by Gerrard minutes later but the angle made Kiely's low save routine.
With time running out on his club's top flight tenure, Mowbray sacrificed centre-back Martis for midfielder Borja Valero.
The Baggies' record signing wasted no time making his presence felt with a slick pass which defied Liverpool's offside trap. Menseguez was through on Reina but instead squared to Fortune, who was beaten to it by a clumsy if effective challenge by Lucas. A collective scream echoed round The Hawthorns but referee Martin Atkinson waved away their penalty protests.
Moments later indignation turned to heartache as Liverpool scored the goal which effectively sealed their fate. It came on 63 minutes as Kuyt and Gerrard combined before the Dutchman lashed an unstoppable effort beyond the reach of Kiely from the edge of the box.
Kuyt, too, had now trumped his best ever goals tally in England with an impressive haul of 15 from the right wing.
Lucas should have got his name on the scoresheet after doing all the hard work to turn Olsson before poking wide from eight yards.
West Brom refused to go down without a fight, with Fortune denied first by a last-gasp challenge from Jamie Carragher, then by the crossbar. Substitute Luke Moore also struck the post with a neat turn and shot from the edge of the box.
Their side was trying everything, though it was becoming harder for the capacity crowd to believe with every passing minute.
Any faint hopes of a miracle comeback were almost put to bed with five minutes remaining when a superb dummy from Alonso left substitute Ryan Babel with just Kiely to beat. The Dutchman somehow contrived to curl wide.
The miss proved academic as Liverpool held on to record their 13th away win of the season, equalling a club record set 104 years ago. Teams Liverpool: Reina, Insua, Carragher, Agger, Arbeloa, Benayoun, Mascherano, Leiva, Kuyt, Gerrard (captain), Torres. Subs - Alonso, Riera, Ngog, Dossena, Cavalieri, Skrtel, Babel
West Brom: Kiely, Donk, Martis, Olsson, Zuiverloon, Koren, Greening (captain), Mulumbu, Brunt, Menseguez, Fortune. Subs - Carson, Moore, Borja Valero, Simpson, Wood, Meite, Filipe Teixeira
Referee: Martin Atkinson
Conditions: Windy
Attendance: Unknown
Liverpoolfc.tv Man-of-the-Match: Dirk Kuyt |
