Liverpool has moved level on points with Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table courtesy of a 2-1 victory over West Bromwich Albion at Anfield on Saturday.
The Reds could have moved top of the pile on goal difference with a two-goal victory, but they were forced to hold off a late fightback from the Baggies after Gareth McAuley pulled a goal back in the final 10 minutes.
It took a flowing team move from the hosts to break the deadlock midway through the first half when Philippe Coutinho’s dummy released Emre Can, who in turn found Roberto Firmino down the left flank.
The Brazilian then lifted a cross over the head of Allan Nyom at the back post that Sadio Mane volleyed past an onrushing Ben Foster.
From then on it was one-way traffic for the Reds as they looked to hammer home their advantage and extend their unbeaten record in the league to seven games for the first time since March 2015, and Lallana was the next to come close when he curled a left-footed effort off target from the edge of the box.
The second goal did arrive with 10 minutes remaining of the first half, though, as Foster’s sliced clearance was pounced upon by Liverpool and worked out to Coutinho, who dummied his way past two defenders before drilling his finish in at the near post.
Liverpool’s dominance only increased in the second half, and it took some last-gasp defending from the visitors to keep the score down when McAuley threw himself in the way of Firmino’s shot following more slick build-up play from the Reds.
West Brom’s first shot finally arrived with 20 minutes remaining of the match when Firmino’s clearance from a corner only went as far as Nacer Chadli, but the in-form midfielder, who had scored four goals in five league games for the Baggies before today, skewed his shot off target from inside the area.
The visitors slowly began to see more of the ball as the match edged towards its conclusion, and another rare attempt arrived shortly afterwards when James Morrison curled a 25-yard strike over the bar.
The closing stages saw the Baggies also win more set pieces, and Liverpool’s familiar weaknesses soon reared their heads again when McAuley pulled a goal back for his side, lashing home from close range after the hosts had failed to adequately deal with a corner.
That sparked an end-to-end period of the game as West Brom looked to steal an unlikely point from Merseyside, but they needed Foster to keep them in with a chance as the keeper denied Firmino twice in quick succession.
The victory also extended Liverpool’s unbeaten home record to 17 matches in all competitions, while the Baggies have now won just two of their 19 Premier League away games over the last 12 months.
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