West Brom slumped to a sixth defeat in seven games this evening, surrendering meekly to a Liverpool side who won with first-half goals from Robbie Fowler and Djibril Cisse.
Baggies boss Bryan Robson famously saw his team avoid relegation on the final day of last season - and there is no guarantee he will not have to go through the same experience again as his team languish fourth from bottom in apparent freefall.
Perhaps the most disappointing aspect for Robson was that his strugglers failed to rise to the challenge laid down by the performances earlier in the day of fellow relegation candidates Birmingham and Portsmouth.
It was time for Albion to stand up and be counted, to prove they are again up for the fight - and to throw out of the window all the statistics that suggested another Reds win at The Hawthorns.
Instead, Liverpool maintained their unblemished Premiership record on Albion's home soil with consummate ease - making it six wins out of six without conceding a goal - all without suspended captain Steven Gerrard.
West Brom Kuszczak, Albrechtsen, Watson (Clement 62),Curtis Davies, Robinson, Kamara (Gera 45), Johnson, Wallwork,Greening, Kanu (Campbell 62), Ellington. Subs Not Used: Hoult, Kozak.
Liverpool Reina, Finnan, Hyypia, Carragher, Riise, Alonso,Sissoko, Kewell, Cisse (Kromkamp 78), Crouch (Morientes 71),Fowler (Luis Garcia 65). Subs Not Used: Dudek, Warnock.
Goals: Fowler 7, Cisse 38.
Ref: U Rennie (S Yorkshire).
