LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – West Bromwich Albion punished Liverpool for an inefficient display at Anfield on Monday, soaking up 80 minutes of pressure before scoring two late goals for a 2-0 victory and its first Premier League win since December.
Steven Gerrard looked set to finally provide the breakthrough for a dominant Liverpool when the hosts were awarded a penalty in the 77th minute, but goalkeeper Ben Foster dove to his left to palm his spot kick away — one of several key saves that kept the visitors in the game.
Minutes later, West Brom made sure the miss was costly.
Gareth McAuley headed home a corner in the 81st to give the vistors an unlikely lead from their first effort on target. As the disbelieving hosts looked for an equalizer, Romelu Lukaku put the game away on a counterattack in injury time.
It was the Baggies’ first league win since Dec. 26, and lifted them above Liverpool into eighth place.
“It’s a terrific win for us. Since the turn of the year, things haven’t gone our way,” said West Brom manager Steve Clarke, whose team has struggled after a surprisingly strong start to the season. “We’ve always been just one result from kick-starting our season again. Hopefully that result came tonight and we can start chasing the teams above us.”
With West Brom having beaten Liverpool 3-0 at home on the first day of the season, the Baggies completed their first league double against the Reds since 1966-67.
It didn’t look likely as Liverpool dominated proceedings for much of the game, and it only seemed a matter of time before they found the back of the net.
But Foster saved efforts from Jordan Henderson, Daniel Agger, Stewart Downing and Fabio Borini to keep the game scoreless, and again came up big to stop Gerrard’s spot kick.
The situation that led to the penalty is likely to renew the debate about Luis Suarez and his perceived penchant for diving, as the Uruguay forward collided with defender Jonas Olsson in the area and fell to the ground dramatically, then immediately rolled around with his hand up in the air looking toward referee Jon Moss, who pointed to the spot.
Clarke called the decision “a little bit worse than harsh,” but Foster made sure it didn’t matter.
“Their goalkeeper made some fantastic saves tonight, he’s kept them in the game,” Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said.
Henry offers suggestion
HARRISON, New Jersey
AP
Thierry Henry wants soccer officials to deduct points in the standings from teams whose fans racially abuse players.
Several players have been targets of abuse from supporters in recent weeks, including American forward Jozy Altidore of Dutch club AZ Alkmaar, Barcelona defender Daniel Alves and AC Milan midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng, who led his teammates off the field during a friendly in protest.
FIFA ordered Hungary and Bulgaria to play home World Cup qualifiers in empty stadiums next month for anti-Semitic and racist behavior by fans.
“Maybe take some points away,” Henry said during a Monday interview. “I’m not in charge of taking control of all the stuff. Those are only suggestions.”
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