Liverpool 0 West Brom 2: Ben Foster the hero as Gareth McAuley and Romelu Lukaku snatch win for Baggies

Foster was just unbeatable all game long, allowing a smash and grab at the end, as Gareth McAuley headed the visitors ahead with under 10 minutes to go, and substitute Romelu Lukaku rounded things off on the break with a sweetly struck strike into the bottom corner.

Liverpool hadn't conceded at home since mid-December and manager Brendan Rodgers will be ruing all those missed chances that should have finished off West Brom, long before Gerrard's penalty miss.

The hosts started brightly as they looked to break their duck against the teams in the top half of the table, having not beaten any of the nine teams above and around them.

Luis Suarez, who was creative throughout, had an early shot sail wide, before Jonjo Shelvey thought he had opened the scoring after 10 minutes.

Foster in the Baggies goal parried Glen Johnson's long-range effort, leaving the 20-year-old midfielder, playing in a forward position due to the injury sustained by Daniel Strurridge, with a tap-in from six yards. His effort was ruled out for offside.

Ten minutes later, Suarez, with an exceptional bit of skill, tried to set up Shelvey, keeping the ball in play with a reverse cross-over, but Shelvey was not prepared for his team-mate's brilliance and the chance went begging.

West Brom created little in the first period and they were nearly the architects of their own demise only moments before the break as Steven Reid sliced Shelvey's ball across goal, only just clearing his own bar.

Liverpool started the second half as they ended the first, and a fine move down the left resulted in Jordan Henderson back-heeling towards goal from Johnson's cutback, but Foster saved the Baggies again with his left boot.

Midway through the half, substitute Fabio Borini forced yet another fine save from Foster and 10 minutes later Suarez fell in box in front of the Kop.

The fans were hopeful, but not expectant of a penalty decision, but referee Jon Moss pointed to the spot, judging that Jonas Olsson had pushed the Uruguayan.

Gerrard stepped up to try to give the hosts a deserved lead, even if the penalty was not, but Foster, who had the game of his life, guessed right and saved the Liverpool captain's placed effort.

But four minutes later the game turned on its head. After having no shots on goal for over 80 minutes, West Brom took the lead when McAuley headed in Chris Brunt's corner off the underside of the bar, and substitute Lukaku finished off the home side with a well struck goal on the break ending the Baggies run of eight without a win.