West Brom have been relegated from the Premier League after slipping to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Liverpool at the Hawthorns.
Gerrard and Kuyt strikes break Baggies' hearts
West Brom were the first team to be relegated from the Premier League this season after being sunk by goals from Steven Gerrard and Dirk Kuyt at the Hawthorns.
The Baggies started the brighter and Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina pulled off a fine double reaction save to deny Jonathan Greening after five minutes.
But Gerrard put the visitors in front on 28 minutes when he dispossessed Shelton Martis and coolly beat Dean Kiely.
Kuyt then doubled the advantage on 63 minutes with a fine shot from the edge of the box.
But the Baggies refused to go down quietly and substitute Luke Moore hit the post before Marc-Antoine Fortune had a goal disallowed for offside.
Albion, sticking to their attacking policy to the last, have been battling the drop all season and this was their third relegation from the top flight in seven years.
They fought to the last, and there were more cheers than tears from their defiant fans at the end.
But Liverpool were a class above as Gerrard struck his 24th goal of the season - his best ever tally - in the first half and then set up Kuyt for the second just after the hour mark.
It was enough to take them to within one point of securing runners-up spot in the league.
West Brom made three changes from the side that beat Wigan last week and were rocked before kick-off by Sunday newspaper allegations against striker Roman Bednar, who was suspended pending a club investigation.
Boss Tony Mowbray brought in Robert Koren, Ryan Donk and Youssouf Mulumbu for Borja Valero, Marek Cech and Graham Dorrans, the latter out for the season with a broken foot.
Liverpool recalled Daniel Agger and Emiliano Insua for Martin Skrtel and Fabio Aurelio.
Bright start
Initially the edge may well have been taken off Liverpool's challenge, but certainly not from Albion, who hurled themselves into the battle knowing that defeat would see them relegated.
And after just five minutes they were almost ahead. Chris Brunt's corner curled in from the right to Greening on the far post who forced a stunning save from Reina, who also blocked the follow-up.
Reina then pushed away another Greening effort, this time from the right, as corners and crosses rained in on the Liverpool defence.
And the tackles were flying in too - Mulumbu caught Gerrard from behind, while Agger and Insua were both dispossessed.
Liverpool were not being allowed to play the game at their own pace and looked uncomfortable.
They needed to impose themselves on the game with a goal and it almost came when Fernando Torres had two efforts saved from Gerrard's free-kick, with Insua's follow-up being blocked by a mass of Albion bodies.
Greening was booked for a foul on Lucas after 25 minutes, before a shocking piece of defending gifted Liverpool the lead after 28 minutes.
Defender Martis, with plenty of time on his hands to clear, hesitated in possession and Gerrard took full advantage.
The Liverpool skipper collected the ball and surged away before chipping over Kiely for his 24th goal of the season.
The Reds were gaining a measure of control by now, and five minutes later Gerrard drove wide from a Kuyt lay-off before Kiely touched a Torres header onto the bar following a Gerrard chip into the box.
Then Jonas Olsson was booked for a foul on Torres before reacting furiously to what he considered was a Gerrard dive in the box.
Second-half
Five minutes into the second half, Liverpool replaced Javier Mascherano with Xabi Alonso, the Argentina captain having struggled with a thigh injury for much of the first period.
Albion were still showing great spirit, and Reina saved low to his left from a Juan Carlos Menseguez drive.
Albion then sent on an extra forward in Valero, replacing Martis, with attack now being the only thing that would save them.
They had penalty claims turned down after 60 minutes when Lucas' last-ditch challenge sent Fortune tumbling as he went for a Menseguez cross.
But after 63 minutes Liverpool struck again. Gerrard fed Kuyt and the Dutchman surged at retreating defenders before drilling the ball past Kiely from the edge of the box.
Liverpool sent on Ryan Babel for Torres, with Albion replacing Mulumbu with another forward in Moore.
Moore struck a post, Jamie Carragher hurled himself to block a Fortune effort and was involved in a remarkable exchange of words and pushes with colleague Alvaro Arbeloa.
Fortune then had an effort disallowed for offside while Babel and Lucas missed chances at the other end.
Albion kept going to the end, but this time the great escape was beyond them.
| West Bromwich Albion |
Team Statistics |
Liverpool |
| 0 |
Goals |
2 |
| 0 |
1st Half Goals |
1 |
| 4 |
Shots on Target |
8 |
| 5 |
Shots off Target |
7 |
| 5 |
Blocked Shots |
4 |
| 11 |
Corners |
5 |
| 14 |
Fouls |
4 |
| 4 |
Offsides |
2 |
| 2 |
Yellow Cards |
0 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 75 |
Passing Success |
82.5 |
| 21 |
Tackles |
38 |
| 95.2 |
Tackles Success |
71.1 |
| 34.6 |
Possession |
65.4 |
| 49.8 |
Territorial Advantage |
50.2 |
|
