Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool were narrowly denied first place in the Premier League for the evening by a smash-and-grab strike from Gareth McAuley, despite their classy display.
Liverpool entered the game knowing that if they could win by two goals, they would go top of the league on goal difference with Manchester City still to play.
West Brom set up very defensively, and restricted Liverpool with a tight back six. The first chance arrived after a quarter of an hour for the away side on a counter-attack, Salomon Rondon narrowly blocked from supplying a through ball that would have left the Baggies through on goal by a back-tracking Roberto Firmino.
Confirmed #LFC team to face @WBA: Karius, Clyne, Matip, Lovren, Milner, Henderson, Can, Lallana, Coutinho, Mane, Firmino #LIVWBA
The first attempt from Liverpool was a header from James Milner over the bar. Good link-up play between the likes of Sadio Mané and Adam Lallana was being squashed by West Brom's blocking tactics.
A brilliant goal broke the deadlock for the Reds. A wonderful dummy from Phillipe Coutinho let Firmino fly at an exposed defence, and his inch-perfect cross was slammed into the opposite corner by Mané. Beautiful.
GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 West Brom (Mane) More here: https://t.co/GPLGvbnfu7 pic.twitter.com/44qqZu0W9H
The ball was then given away by Claudio Jacob, and Lallana curled an effort just over. The only bright spark for the visitors was Chadli, but he was without sufficient help.
The second goal, and the one that put Liverpool momentarilytop, was smashed in by Coutinho. Ben Foster, the hero against Tottenham, wildly sliced a clearance up in the air, and two defenders dived in and were beaten by one Coutinho's turn before he finished at the near post.
An end was soon brought to a stunning first half from Liverpool, but one that West Brom needed to forget.
GOAL Liverpool 2-0 West Brom (35 mins). Ben Foster can only partially clear & Coutinho weaves into the box and drills home #LIVWBA
Positivity reigned at the Kop in the early second half. Incisive passing in the 55th minute from Mané and Coutinho brought about a chance forFirmino, but his shot was blocked byChris Brunt.
It was followed by a top save from Foster; Coutinho's free kick was flicked goal-wards off the head of Dejan Lovren, but Foster clawed it out.
Coutinho was released by a wonderful pass from Milner, and his ball to Emre Can set up a shot which was well blocked by Jonas Olsson.
The first chance of the whole game for West Brom came to Chadli, who lifted over from their first corner.It summed up the Baggies' performance: inept except for Chadli.
QUOTE: Jurgen Klopp: "Long ball Manchester United was good practice for Tony Pulis' West Brom" 😂🔥 pic.twitter.com/jIHlG3mbyk
James Morrison curled over from range off Hal Robson-Kanu, as West Brom suddenly woke up. The question really was whether a late goal would deny Liverpool top spot.
Gareth McAuley nearly squeezed one in at the back post, which created a discontented murmur at Anfield. That would grow to cries of disbelief as McAuley smacked the ball home from a corner off a deflection from his own shoulder to make it 2-1. Nerves rose where there had been satisfaction.
Liverpool raced forward looking to kill the game off, and Foster was forced to produce two smart saves from Firmino. West Brom were looking for one of the most incredible smash-and-grab points ever notched in the Premier League.
They did not manage it, as Liverpool clung on at the death to go second in the league.