Premier League - Liverpool relegate West Brom

Eurosport - Mon, 18 May 08:55:00 2009

West Bromwich Albion became the first team relegated from the Premier League this season after losing 2-0 to Liverpool at The Hawthorns.

2008-2009 West Bromwich Albion - 0

The Baggies knew they had to beat Rafa Benitez's side to maintain any realistic chance of staying up, but were undone by goals from Steven Gerrard and Dirk Kuyt.

Tony Mowbray's side appeared relegation certainties for much of the season, but two wins in three games stirred hope that they could repeat their 'great escape' of 2004/05, when they became the only side in the Premier League era to avoid relegation having been bottom at Christmas.

But familiar failings cost them dear, as a catastrophic lapse of concentration from Shelton Martis led to the opening goal, while Juan Carlos Menseguez and Marc-Antoine Fortune contrived to squander a gilt-edged chance shortly before Kuyt added the second.

The home side's preparations were not helped by lurid claims in a Sunday newspaper about striker Roman Bednar, causing the striker's immediate suspension while the club conduct an investigation.

The win virtually guarantees Liverpool will finish second, but it was overshadowed by a bizarre confrontation between defenders Jamie Carragher and Alvaro Arbeloa.

Twenty-four hours earlier, the visitors saw their Premier League title bid ended by Manchester United, and started in suitably lacklustre fashion.

Roared on by a boisterous crowd, the Baggies raced out of the blocks and would have led in the fifth minute had it not been for a brilliant double save by Jose Reina.

A Chris Brunt corner from the right found Jonathan Greening at the far post, whose shot brought a superb reflex stop from Reina, and the Spaniard sprung to his feet to block Greening's follow-up.

West Brom captain Greening was at the heart of the action moments later when he nutmegged Emiliano Insua - a late replacement for Fabio Aurelio - and delivered a dangerous cross from the right that the visitors scrambled away.

At the other end, there was little to do for Dean Kiely, preferred in goal to Scott Carson after a magnificent display against Wigan last weekend.

Everything changed on 28 minutes, when Martis dawdled inexplicably on the ball and was robbed by Gerrard.

The Liverpool skipper raced through on goal and lifted the ball deftly over Kiely into the left corner of the net.

It was the 24th goal of an outstanding season for the man voted Football Writers' Player of the Year.

Gerrard then went close with a curling 25-yarder, then supplied a cross for Fernando Torres, whose glancing header forced Kiely to tip over.

The second half followed much the same pattern as West Brom played some vibrant stuff but failed to take their chances.

On 59 minutes, Menseguez was fortunately adjudged onside when played through by Robert Koren. He could have shot but chose to square it for Fortune, whose failure to attack the ball gave Lucas Leiva the chance to make a goal-saving tackle.

It was a glorious chance, and within five minutes Kuyt had doubled Liverpool's lead, collecting a Gerrard pass, weaving into space and battering a low shot into the right corner of the West Brom net.

Fortune proceeded to miss two more sitters - one a particularly simple free header - and when he finally put the ball in the net he was denied by an offside flag.

Liverpool might have been forgiven for taking their foot off the gas, but their will to win spilled over in embarrassing fashion late on when Carragher and Arbeloa squared up to each other and exchanged shoves before team-mates pulled them apart.

The Hawthorns gave West Brom a rousing send-off as time wound down. If the fervency and loyalty of their support is anything to go by, their exile from the top flight should be a short one.

Alex Chick / Eurosport

Comment 506 - 525 of 525

Sort comments by: Most recent

  1. ONLY 2-0, MAN U COULD BEAT THEM 27-0 NOW WHOS TALKING.­ MANCHESTER UNITED ARE TRU CHAPIONS.

    From ANNA, on Mon 18 May 5:46PM

  2. sorry and where did you finish again ?????????????­ LOL
    I live within sight of the stadium and scouse hater­ lives in Chorlton @#$% Hardy so ur wrong there too and­ as ive supported them for 40yrs+ im hardly a glory­ hunter am i ??? not that Derby fans would know what­ that is anyway, if your recent form is anything to go­ by, PMSL

    From the silent assassin, on Mon 18 May 5:34PM

  3. well at least Liverpool and West brom fans are actually­ from their home towns, most, sorry all Man u fans are­ glory supporters.

    dcfc

    From elliott, on Mon 18 May 5:14PM

  4. Ferg, Loserpool have NEVER won the EPL since it began­ and thats what makes all of you so envious and bitter.­ U r as disrespectful as any fans can be, u have to­ learn to be gracious in defeat and acknowledge that we­ have repeatedly pipped you to the title and that as­ hard as it may be, CONGRATULATIONS is in order. YNWA is­ for Yobs Nobs @#$% Assoc and YOU NEVER WIN­ ANYTHING..................

    From the silent assassin, on Mon 18 May 4:35PM

  5. neil, hate to disappoint you but SAF will NEVER LEAVE.­ He will be given a job "upstairs" where he­ will be able to oversee and assist the new Manager, to­ enable him to carry on the Dynasty that SAF has built.

    From the silent assassin, on Mon 18 May 4:26PM

  6. Funny how for the past few years, all we've heard­ off United fans is "we've won The Premier­ League X amount of times", without even giving a­ s--t about the old league because we had won it more­ times than them.
    NOW, that they have equalled our­ league record, the old league matters to them.
    Make up­ your fickle minds will you.....

    From Ferg, on Mon 18 May 2:28PM

  7. manure, thanks for that

    From the silent assassin, on Mon 18 May 12:57PM

  8. Here's a killer spam mail Qoute of the week..
    Man­ Utd fans will­ loves this..
    Ready check this­ out..
    "Anw that Fat­ Spanish Butthole still insist­ he's in with a­ chance,apparently lurking, stalking­ & talking to SkySports­­ somewhere"!!..Jesus!!..he's even fooling the­ fools!!..haha..

    P.s:This is nothing personal but­ LET'S ALL JUST LAUGH OUT LOUD!!..haha..sorry mate i­ can't help myself..Ouch!!..:)..

    From Giggs11,A True Red Legend,Arise, on Mon 18 May 11:04AM

  9. Why have Man U fans invaded this page?

    As a West Brom­ fan who attends all matches HOME and AWAY I feel I am­ in quite a privilaged position to comment on both­ teams.

    You all walk around in this little dream­ fantasy world where only Man U and Liverpool Exist, the­ facts are that for the last 10 Years Man U have been­ the dominate force in the world never mind the­ premiership, they have built a world class squad and­ have a world class manager. However; they are also­ starting to get to an age now where maybe 7/8 players­ are too old to consistently challenge for the top­ honours. Fergie will soon bow out and leave behind half­ a good team, is there anybody in world football who can­ carry fergie mantle?? I don't think so.

    As for­ Liverpool, as they showed against us yesterday, they­ have soon fantastic individual players and I personally­ would prefer gerrard over anyone in the world. However,­ there squad is simply not good enough to challenge at­ the moment, the players that are brought in are very­ very poor compared to the ones leaving. Look at the­ substitutes yesterday: Liverpool brought on Alonso who­ is the type of player you need to always have­ available, yet they are planning on selling him this­ summer. They also brought on Ngog who to be honest­ would not get in Albions team. Get rid of the rubbish­ and buy some reasonably priced footballers Rafa, it­ seems whenever you have players who are going to be­ successful (Crouch, Keane) you sell them.

    It's­ been a pleasure playing you all this season and­ hopefully we'll meet again.

    Boing Boing

    From paulchappell82, on Mon 18 May 10:14AM

  10. Squarehead64, you really area a patronising tw*t, what­ are you worried about or is it just because a woman has­ made a very valid comment. I do think about things­ before I say or write anything. So go & get your­ giro you sad little man and buy your own valium &­ let the 'adults' do the commenting on here. It­ was only because Manure & old red nose can­ manipulate the referees that you've won this year. ­ Think the thing that got you most is that you KNOW that­ we'll be there next season & all you manure­ fans will be crying at the end of May when you're­ stuffed by Barcelona.

    From Sharon, on Mon 18 May 9:48AM

  11. To all Man U fans that flooded this page,­ Congratulation once again for winning the league and­ good luck in Rome. Am really tired of reading all the­ insult. True football fans wouldn't do that and­ I'm guilty of it myself. Am happy too that­ Liverpool finally manage to challenge.

    From c, on Mon 18 May 9:24AM

  12. when Ferguson's leaves it will be all over, you­ will become the new chelsea

    From Neil M, on Mon 18 May 9:04AM

  13. Liverpong. Riverfull of rats is called ratfield. Wiser­ are those who shut their rear assenal and poo their­ points at the right. But the liverpoo guys poo all­ their lead and now they 've to wait next season.

    From Majoser, on Mon 18 May 8:56AM
  14. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    18 times United 18 times United 18 times United 18­ times United18 times United v18 times United18 times­ United 18 times United18 times United
    enough said,­ these sorry scousers will have their worst summer on­ record! and its all down to Lord Fergie and United

    im­ lovin it

    From lee, on Mon 18 May 8:41AM
  15. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    TO all liverfool fans..here is the recepe for you to do­ well in the EPL next season.
    1.. fire riff raff fat­ rafa the stupid coach; 2 increase your squad to 22 top­ class
    players not gerrard and torres day in day out; 3­ stop thinking you are the best, come
    for lessons to Old­ Traffold and 4 change your jearsey strip from red to­ blue.. red
    is reserved for the REAL RED DEVILS.. from­ MAN UNITED FAN

    BEL pa zed

    From Brian, on Mon 18 May 8:40AM

  16. TO all liverfool fans..here is the recepe for you to do­ well in the EPL next season.
    1.. fire riff raff fat­ rafa the stupid coach; 2 increase your squad to 22 top­ class
    players not gerrard and torres day in day out; 3­ stop thinking you are the best, come
    for lessons to Old­ Traffold and 4 change your jearsey strip from red to­ blue.. red
    is reserved for the REAL RED DEVILS.. from­ MAN UNITED FAN

    BEL pa zed

    From Brian, on Mon 18 May 8:38AM

  17. TO all liverfool fans..here is the recepe for you to do­ well in the EPL next season.
    1.. fire riff raff fat­ rafa the stupid coach; 2 increase your squad to 22 top­ class
    players not gerrard and torres day in day out; 3­ stop thinking you are the best, come
    for lessons to Old­ Traffold and 4 change your jearsey strip from red to­ blue.. red
    is reserved for the REAL RED DEVILS.. from­ MAN UNITED FAN

    BEL pa zed

    From Brian, on Mon 18 May 8:38AM

  18. TO all liverfool fans..here is the recepe for you to do­ well in the EPL next season.
    1.. fire riff raff fat­ rafa the stupid coach; 2 increase your squad to 22 top­ class
    players not gerrard and torres day in day out; 3­ stop thinking you are the best, come
    for lessons to Old­ Traffold and 4 change your jearsey strip from red to­ blue.. red
    is reserved for the REAL RED DEVILS.. from­ MAN UNITED FAN

    BEL pa zed

    From Brian, on Mon 18 May 8:37AM

  19. James.Kane2007!! Shut up! Nob!

    From Donis, on Mon 18 May 8:22AM

  20. i hear man utd new kit deal with oxfam

    From harvinder, on Mon 18 May 7:51AM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account