LIVERPOOL STAYED ON course for a top-four finish in the Premier League as Roberto Firmino gave them a 1-0 win at West Brom.
Tony Pulis’ side have inconvenienced other Champions League aspirants of late, beating Arsenal 3-1 and holding Manchester United to a 0-0 draw.
But they were unable to lay a glove on Liverpool for much of a listless encounter, and what is normally an area of strength for Albion proved to be their downfall.
Firmino was allowed too much room to net his 11th Premier League goal of the season as the hosts’ set-piece defending failed them in first-half stoppage time.
Jurgen Klopp’s side provided few of the thrills normally associated with the division’s top scorers, with Sadio Mane’s void in attack one they will struggle to fill over the closing weeks, but Liverpool never looked like letting their control slip during the second period.
They return to third place, two points above Manchester City having played a game more.
West Brom midfielder Claudio Yacob carelessly coughed up possession inside his own half in the 15th minute, allowing Philippe Coutinho to scamper towards goal and play in Firmino, who dragged wide left footed.
Nacer Chadli should have added to his five goals for Albion but swung a boot at fresh air after Matt Phillips hooked the ball towards him at the back post.
Coutinho stretched to volley off target on the end of Firmino’s raking 24th-minute pass but Liverpool were struggling for fluency – Adam Lallana’s ongoing absence through a hamstring injury being keenly felt in midfield.
Phillips was the provider once more for the hosts when Hal Robson-Kanu found space between the Liverpool centre-backs but scuffed tamely at goalkeeper Simon Mignolet.
With a forgettable half meandering towards its conclusion, Klopp’s men took the lead in stoppage time.
Chris Brunt pulled back Divock Origi, earning a booking for his troubles, and the Northern Ireland international’s indiscipline was punished when Lucas Leiva flicked on James Milner’s delivery from the right and Firmino headed home.
Liverpool almost added a wonderful second 11 minutes into the second period. Georginio Wijnaldum slid a nicely weighted pass into Firmino’s path and the goalscorer chipped across the West Brom box, where Milner charged forward from left-back to volley over.
West Brom’s dour form in front of goal meant Liverpool were scarcely tested until 10 minutes from time.
Phillips collected a return pass from Salomon Rondon after the substitute powered towards the opposition penalty area, but Mignolet stood firm to block his effort behind.
Pulis’ men would go no closer to getting on terms – the Arsenal win before last month’s international break standing as the only game in the last seven where they have found the net.
Goalkeeper Ben Foster ventured up for a stoppage-time corner to try and improve this record but found himself stranded on the right wing.
Liverpool substitute Alberto Moreno eyed up West Brom’s unguarded goal but like all other attempts during the second half, his shot was off target.
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Slippy G knowns how to win a league. Oh wait
Get in, love it. Making a contest of it Rangers, Stevie making a cracking start to management.
@Marty Morrisey: Rangers are rank rotten ,Terrible side ,Celtic will pump them next week.
@Midland Celt: And yet they lie 1 point off the Pumpers.
@Marty Morrisey: BTW With a game in Hand ,
@Midland Celt: like literally pump them?
@Marty Morrisey: you are a sad sad troll .
@Niall James Fergal McCormack: Cheers for the glorious input shorty.
@Marty Morrisey: thanks you sad man . Not sure what the shorty comment is about but f**k me I hope you are under 18 because if not it makes the way you act on the 42 even sadder . Grow up !
@Niall James Fergal McCormack: Glorious input cheers shortie.
@Marty Morrisey: you had the spelling of ‘shorty’ correct the first time. Trolling with illiteracy, Marty, is only a step above fingering a badger.
@Ian Michael O’Carroll: 1 in the stink 2 in the pink like ?
@Ian Michael O’Carroll: fingering a badger. Lol.
Steven Gerard’s Rangers were awful from start to finish. A team completely devoid of ideas. It was great to watch them toil. Morelos gets into great positions and pulled them out of a hole.
I’d imagine Celtic can’t wait for the game on the 29th.
@Ciaran Rice: 3 points all the same.
@Mark Glynn: of course but that doesn’t mask how poor Steven Gerard’s Rangers are.
@Ciaran Rice: To be fair though, they are a growing side..have had to start all over again and are making progress
@Mark Glynn: eh, the side has been getting worse every week. They are now making very few chances and scoring hardly any goals. There also have around the same points total after this round of games as they did last season.
@Ciaran Rice: If celtic win their game in hand it puts 4 points between the teams. A couple weeks back you were giving out that the Premiership has no competition when City were 3 points clear haha
@Turkish: I said the SPFL is more competitive than the EPL this season (and last season), which it is. Celtic are a point ahead. There have been 5 changes for first place in December alone. There are currently only 11 points separating 1st to 8th and 6 different sides have led the league so far this season.
Liverpool have played almost an entire round of games and are still unbeaten. Not much competition there.
@Ciaran Rice: so there not making progress, from having to start in bottom division with a new crop of players-now there in the premiership..
@Mark Glynn: if you think finishing 3rd every season, spending more than any other side whilst winning nothing is progressing then that’s up to you.
@Ciaran Rice: How much more than Celtic did they spend this season?
@Ciaran Rice: what do you mean winning nothing. Rangers secured promotion back to the Premiership having won three promotions in four years.
@The Bloody Nine: think they spent 2-3 million more than Celtic. That is going on the reported £9 million Celtic spent on Edouard, which I don’t believe is the case. The Rangers also spent more than Celtic last summer also.
@Mark Glynn: back to the premiership? They had never been there in the first place.
@Ciaran Rice: you sure mate, pretty sure it’s called the Scottish Premiership. Do your research.
Who is this Rangers you speak of? Are they anything to Steven Gerrards Rangers??
Doing well on a shoe string budget hopefully rangers pull of a shock with this squad and win it
@Colgate: oh god he’s got yet another account
@Colgate: spent most in the league . Your trolling is poor and creating new accounts so often is pathetic . Grow up !
@Niall James Fergal McCormack: 2 people on this article, just article alone you have attacked. Glorious input as per shorty.
@Marty Morrisey: 2 people? You mean you and you!! You are as bad as Andy Gorum!!!
@Marty Morrisey: what a sad sad person.. people like u that sit in there room all day and have 1 friend that’s your 8 year old sister!!
@Jay Murphy: I have 6 sister’s all older than me. Hugs n X’s JJ
@Marty Morrisey: haha shortie . I like the way that’s sticking for you because it makes no sense . Are you trolling yourself ? I’ve no idea what you are talking about but you are a very sad man .