Liverpool victory piles pressure on Baggies

Saturday, 01, Apr 2006 07:50

Liverpool continued their recent rich vein of form following a comfortable 2-0 victory over West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns.

Rafa Benitez's attacking formation featuring Fowler, Cisse and Crouch paid off as Liverpool sought to secure an automatic qualifying position in the Champions League.

In the sixth minute, industrious work by the recently recalled Cisse enabled Robbie Fowler to open the scoring with a tap-in at the far post, his second goal since an emotional return to Anfield in the January transfer window.

Cisse's strength and pace down the right hand side caused left-back Robinson no end of trouble. In the 37th minute he once again stole a march on the labouring Baggies defence by picking up a long ball, rounding Kuszczak, and slotting home.

West Brom sent on Zoltan Gera after half-time and the Hungarian international, who has been injured for much of the season, caused Liverpool some problems but he was not able to make a definitive breakthrough against a miserly Liverpool defence.

The defeat means Bryan Robson's team have not won in seven games and with a resurgent Portsmouth now equal on points, their Premiership future looks increasingly jeopardised.

Having now scored 20 goals in their last five games, however, Liverpool seem to have resolved the goal-scoring difficulties which have blighted their title push this term.