Reds brush aside Baggies

Liverpool closed to within a point of the Premier League's top four on Saturday as they proved too strong for West Brom at The Hawthorns.

Adam and Carroll on target at The Hawthorns

Liverpool closed to within a point of the Premier League's top four on Saturday as they proved too strong for West Brom at The Hawthorns. The Reds brushed aside former boss Roy Hodgson in convincing fashion, with Charlie Adam and Andy Carroll securing a 2-0 win. There were less than eight minutes on the clock when the first flashpoint of the game arrived and handed Liverpool the opportunity to open the scoring. Jerome Thomas was adjudged to have tripped Luis Suarez inside the box and, despite the Baggies' protests, referee Lee Mason pointed to the spot. Adam was kept waiting as he lined up the penalty, but he held his nerve to send Ben Foster the wrong way. Liverpool doubled their lead in first-half stoppage-time, with Suarez cushioning the ball into the path of Carroll and he stretched out a leg to divert it past the onrushing Foster and into the back of the net. Suarez was desperate to get himself on the scoresheet in the second half, causing havoc whenever he was in possession, but the closest he came was a delicate lob that was ruled out for offside. Stewart Downing almost added a third for the visitors in the closing stages, but he saw a low drive cannon back off the woodwork.

Satisfaction

The way that Carroll and Suarez gelled will have given the most satisfaction to Reds boss Kenny Dalglish. Carroll is starting to live up to his £35million price tag while Suarez gave his usual irresistible performance as the pair tormented the Baggies rear-guard. With Adam and Lucas Leiva running the show in the centre of the park and Daniel Agger impressive in defence, Liverpool had few problems in chalking up a third away league win of the campaign. It ended the Baggies' run of 11 points from the last six games, but more accomplished sides will find it hard to deal with Carroll and Suarez in this form. Liverpool, without the injured Steven Gerrard (ankle) and Jamie Carragher (calf), were the first to settle and a long ball from Jose Enrique was seized on by Suarez but his control let him down. After nine minutes Adam put Liverpool ahead from the penalty spot. Suarez was bundled into by Thomas and referee Mason pointed to the spot after his assistant Gary Beswick flagged for a foul.

Incensed

Albion's players were incensed by the decision but up stepped Adam to send Foster the wrong way from the spot for his second goal of the campaign. Liverpool had appeals for a second penalty rejected when Carroll's header from Suarez's cross struck the hand of Steven Reid. Jonas Olsson became the first player to be yellow carded after 35 minutes for a reckless challenge on Carroll. Soon afterwards, Suarez had a chance to increase Liverpool's lead when Martin Skrtel squared a deep Adam corner back across the box. But the Uruguayan shot wide from eight yards out. Then after 45 minutes Carroll made it 2-0. Lucas' fine pass picked out Suarez and he released Carroll who clipped wide of the advancing Foster for his fifth goal in 21 games for Liverpool. Liverpool began the second half on the offensive and Jordan Henderson failed to make proper contact on his shot after Carroll found him in space. Albion came close for the first time after 47 minutes when Somen Tchoyi was inches wide with his low cross-shot. But Liverpool were quickly back in command and Carroll should have done better when an Adam shot ballooned up into his path.

Angle

Suarez was proving hard to contain and he shot over from a narrow angle. A long raking pass from Adam released Suarez who cut inside the box but he was eventually crowded out and Foster collected. Albion were forced into a change with Paul Scharner picking up a knee injury and replaced by James Morrison. Jose Enrique galloped forward to force Foster to finger-tip his shot over the bar and then the keeper blocked a Carroll volley after more good play by Suarez. Carroll found himself in acres of space on the edge of the box but shot wide when Henderson was unmarked. With nine minutes left, Dalglish made his first substitution with Suarez making way for Craig Bellamy - his 250th Premier League appearance. Olsson headed wide from a Chris Brunt corner but it was too little, too late from the Baggies and in injury time the woodwork denied Downing his first Liverpool goal.

West Bromwich Albion	Team Statistics	Liverpool
0	Goals	2
0	1st Half Goals	2
1	Shots on Target	4
5	Shots off Target	12
7	Blocked Shots	2
3	Corners	10
12	Fouls	10
3	Offsides	8
1	Yellow Cards	0
0	Red Cards	0
74.5	Passing Success	80.5
14	Tackles	20
50	Tackles Success	80
42.3	Possession	57.7
58.1	Territorial Advantage	41.9
368	Total Passes	513
19	Total Crosses	27
156	Lost Balls	174
55	Recoveries	66