Liverpool 3-0 West Brom: Robbie Keane is mustard

Forget the hand of God, this was the night when Liverpool were touched by the goals of Rob.

A day after Diego Maradona left Rafa Benitez's 100 grand-a-week men star-struck on a visit to the club's Melwood training ground, it was Robbie Keane who provided the inspiration for a win which lifted the Reds to the top of the Premier League.

The Irishman had gone 11 league matches without a goal since his £20million arrival from Spurs. Only two goals in the Champions League had prevented his frustration becoming a crisis.

But in a nine-minute first-half spell Keane scored twice to show he can be much more than just a provider for Fernando Torres.

Liverpool lost their unbeaten Premier League record at Spurs last week and needed a last-minute Steven Gerrard penalty to force a Champions League draw with Atletico Madrid in midweek.

But boss Rafa Benitez resisted the temptation to rush back Torres, naming the Spanish striker as a substitute following a six-game absence with a hamstring injury.

The Merseysiders knew a win would take them three points clear of Chelsea at the top and eight ahead of Manchester United, albeit having played a game more than both.

Liverpool had won their last nine League games against the Baggies, who hadn't even scored at Anfield for 23 years.

The home side should have been ahead in the 13th minute when Javier Mascherano's sheer determination created a glorious chance for Keane only for the Irishman to shoot straight at Scott Carson.

Keane almost made amends when his clever backheel sent Fabio Aurelio down the left, but his cross was hacked behind by Baggies defender Jonas Olsson as Dirk Kuyt looked to pounce.

The Reds were wasteful again when Gerrard's pass put Yossi Benayoun clear in the 29th minute. The Israeli's shot was blocked well by Carson and the ball bounced up to strike Olsson on the arm, but referee Peter Walton waved away Liverpool's penalty claim.

Liverpool found the breakthrough in the 34th minute thanks to Keane's first Premier League goal for them in his 12th appearance. Aurelio's pass found Gerrard and his cute through-ball was matched by Keane's clever angled run and finish. Mascherano forced Carson into another save as Liverpool went in for the kill.

Keane was in no mood to show mercy to the Baggies fans who jeered him for his Wolves past. Aurelio's pass sent the Irishman through the heart of the Albion defence again in the 43rd minute and he danced around Carson before firing home.

Baggies boss Tony Mowbray made a double substitution early in the second half, with Roman Bednar and Do-heon Kim making way for Luke Moore and Andrade Filipe Teixeira.

But by then Liverpool had already had another penalty appeal waved away when Riera fell under Gianni Zuiverloon's challenge. And immediately after West Brom's changes, both Keane and Dirk Kuyt were inches away from putting the finishing touch to Riera's cross. Then only Donk's desperate challenge prevented Keane from getting another hat-trick opportunity.

It took the visitors all of 71 minutes to cause Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina any real concern.

Within seconds of coming on as a substitute, Chris Brunt unleahed a 30-yard free-kick that flashed just wide as Reina scrambled across his goal.

That was the cue for Torres to replace Keane.

Against Atletico in midweek, the Irishman walked off shaking his head in disgust at Benitez's decision to replace him.

This time he savoured a standing ovation from the Kop.

Alvaro Arbeloa provided the perfect finish in injury time when he cut inside and curled a delightful left-footed shot into the corner of the net.

MAN OF THE MATCH
ROBBIE KEANE 8
The Irishman will never forget the night he became a match-winner for the team he supported as a boy.

MANAGERS
R BENITEZ 7
His team won at a canter

T MOWBRAY 5
Baggies lack striking spark

REFEREE
P WALTON 5
Some questionable decisions

DID YOU KNOW?
West Brom must hate these meetings. In 2002-03 Liverpool beat them 2-0 and 6-0, in 2004-05 the Reds won 3-0 and 5-0 and in 2005-06 it was 1-0 and 2-0.

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