Premier League: West Brom 3 Liverpool 0

18 August 2012 18:15

Steve Clarke started his career as West Bromwich Albion manager with an emphatic 3-0 win over Liverpool at the Hawthorns on Saturday.

Liverpool were the better of the two teams early but fell behind late in the first half as Zoltan Gera fired a sensational volley into the top corner to give his side a surprise lead on the opening day of the English Premier League season.

The second half followed a similar pattern and although Pepe Reina saved a Shane Long penalty, he could not stop Peter Odemwingie's spot-kick or Romelu Lukaku's late header as Brendan Rodgers endured a miserable start.

Liverpool defender Daniel Agger was red-carded on 58 minutes to leave the visitors with little hope of salvaging a point.

Suarez, who missed several chances, looked the most likely to create something for Liverpool and he went close on 26 minutes.

Fabio Borini flicked the ball on with a header and the former Ajax man surged into the area before shooting for the bottom corner, but he could only find the side netting.

Soon after, Glen Johnson did brilliantly down the left, beating Steven Reid with consummate ease before crossing to the back post, where Suarez headed over from six yards.

Johnson was suspect in defence and conceded a free-kick in a dangerous area in the final moments of the first half as he brought Odemwingie down from behind, and Liverpool were punished.

Reid's free-kick was put behind, but from the resulting corner the ball was headed out as far as Gera, who volleyed a wonderful strike into the top corner from 25 yards.

Suarez curled a free-kick wide early in the second half and West Brom had a glorious opportunity to go 2-0 up through Long.

The forward latched onto a clearance and his pace helped him get the better of Agger, who brought him down and was subsequently sent off for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity.

Long stepped up for the spot-kick, but his woeful effort was struck too softly and Reina easily got down to his right to make the save.

Long made amends as he won another penalty for the hosts in the 64th minute.

Long stole the ball from Martin Skrtel and the Slovakian defender was unlucky to concede a penalty as he brought the 25-year-old down as he followed through to pass, with Odemwingie converting from the spot.

Liverpool's midfield struggled to create clear-cut chances and they almost found themselves 3-0 down, but James Morrison wasted a glorious opportunity when he side-footed over the bar.

However, they did not have to wait much longer for their third goal as Liam Ridgewell chipped a lovely ball to the far post and Lukaku nodded in the sealer on 77 minutes to give West Brom a comfortable win.