Premier League: West Brom stun Liverpool at Anfield

Gareth McAuley and Romelu Lukaku scored late goals and West Brom clinched an unlikely victory at Liverpool to end a spell of six games without a win. The visitors, managed by former Reds assistant manager Steve Clarke, were under pressure throughout the match but they survived the most difficult moments, including a Steven Gerrard penalty kick on 77 minutes. That was the turning point as West Brom then who went close through Youssouf Mulumbu before McAuley headed in Chris Brunt's corner nine minutes from time. Substitute Lukaku wrapped things up minutes later as he broke forward, cleverly skipped past Daniel Agger and fired past Pepe Reina. The result lifted the Baggies a point above Liverpool into eighth in the Premier League table. Jonjo Shelvey, starting instead of injured Daniel Sturridge, produced the first moment of excitement at Anfield Road as had the ball in the net but his effort was correctly ruled out for offside. Gerrard and Stewart Downing then tested goalkeeper Ben Foster with long-range shots but the goalie was in great shape throughout the night. Liverpool came the closest with the help of West Brom defender Steven Reid who nearly put one past his own goalkeeper following a drilled cross from Shelvey. The Reds started going forward with more impetus after the break and it took another good save from Foster to stop Jordan Henderson's clever back heel effort. Then the WBA goalie pulled off another great stop on a fine shot from substitute Fabio Borini and another one on Gerrard's powerful shot from inside the penalty area. The climax for the visiting goalie came on 77 minutes when the referee pointed to the spot, Gerrard stepped forward to take it but the goalie dived and palmed it away. West Brom gained confidence after that saved penalty, Mulumbu was denied by Reina on the visitors' first shot on target only for McAuley to nod home on the following corner kick. Then Lukaku sealed the three points for WBA with a fine move and finish. Liverpool face another tough test on Thursday as they meet Russian side Zenit in the Europa League, here are the odds for that match at Bet365: Zenit win - 5/4 Draw - 9/4 Liverpool win - 9/4