And that shortcoming gifted Liverpool the lead on 28 minutes, centre-back Shelton Martis panicking under the slightest pressure from Gerrard to allow the Liverpool skipper to steal possession, advance on goal and clip the ball expertly over Dean Kiely.

It was Liverpool’s 50th goal away from home this season in all competitions. Martis had been shipped out on loan to Doncaster Rovers earlier in the campaign and it was easy to see why.

Moments later, Daniel Agger produced a resourceful block to deny Marc-Antoine Fortune, but the opener sapped the enthusiasm from the Baggies.

A Torres header from Gerrard’s clipped cross was turned on to the crossbar by Kiely and the goalkeeper then did well to keep out a skidding free-kick from Agger.

Jonas Olsson, booked seconds earlier for an off-the-ball challenge on Torres, was slightly fortunate to escape censure when knocking over Gerrard inside the area on the stroke of half-time.

But after Torres solicited another decent save from Kiely, West Brom wasted a glorious chance to equalise on the hour when Juan Carlos Menseguez raced down the right but his inviting low cross evaded Fortune under intense pressure from the retreating Lucas Leiva.

West Brom claimed a penalty, but Liverpool could argue Menseguez had looked suspiciously offside when receiving the initial pass.

Fortune’s aberration was put into sharp focus three minutes later when Gerrard’s fine pass found Kuyt and, with the West Brom defence unwisely backing off, the Dutchman unleashed a fine low shot from 20 yards that beat Kuyt.

West Brom haven’t scored against Liverpool for more than 23 years and, after substitute Luke Moore struck the base of the post, Fortune suggested it may well be just as long again before they net after somehow contriving to send a free header over the crossbar from four yards