Reds go down to Baggies defeat

Liverpool suffered a harsh 1-0 defeat on Roy Hodgson's return to Anfield. The Reds were dominant all afternoon and created a host of chances but were made to pay for a late defensive lapse. Peter Odemwingie snatched the victory for West Brom on 75 minutes after Youssouf Mulumbuseized possession from Glen Johnson and fed the forward, who slotted past Pepe Reina for 1-0. A victory would have taken Liverpool above neighbours Everton in the Barclays Premier League and it looked for most of the game that the home side would come away with the three points. The Reds had the better of the early chances. On 10 minutes Andy Carroll robbed the ball from Mulumbu and released Luis Suarez. The Uruguayan raced towards goal drawing two West Brom defenders away from Dirk Kuyt, who was unable to apply the finish. Then Suarez exchanged a neat one-two with Johnson before flashing a ball across the face of Ben Foster's goal. Agger was lingering at the back post but his outstretched boot could not turn the ball home. The Reds had the momentum, spurred on by Carroll, who was stamping his authority on the game both on the deck and in the air. On 20 minutes Maxi curled into the middle for the No.9 to race onto and nod over the bar. He was involved again minutes later, towering above his marker to flick the ball into the path of Suarez. The No.7 stormed into the penalty area, cut back and shifted the ball onto his right foot but Gareth McAuley was bravely down to block his effort. West Brom eventually threatened on 27 minutes but a strong hand from Reina - back from a three game suspension - denied Baggies captain Chris Brunt. The Reds thought they had broken the deadlock two minutes later when Jose Enrique clipped a perfectly-weighted pass into Suarez who had found space in the opposition area to nod the ball over Foster but onto the roof of the net. Jay Spearing was making his 50th appearance in all competitions for Liverpool and the 23-year-old looked as composed as ever throughout the first half, passing, moving and demanding the ball to feet. On 34 minutes, after tidy link-up play from Suarez and Carroll, Kuyt laid the ball off for the No. 20 and all of a sudden a path towards goal opened for him. He released an effort that had the home crowd on their feet and Foster scrambling across his goalmouth to watch the ball clear his far post. Five minutes from the interval, Carroll's lofted pass broke for Agger at the far post. The Dane stretched to control before checking back inside and firing into the side-netting from close range. Liverpool flew out of the blocks in the second half. On 46 minutes, Suarez pointed to the exact spot where he wanted Johnson to feed him possession and the full-back obliged. The Uruguayan sprung into action, controlling, swivelling and arrowing the ball across the face of goal. No-one was arriving for what would have been a simple finish. Then came the most incisive and intricate move of the game. Suarez poked the ball into Johnson on the edge of the area. He exchanged passes with Kuyt before Carroll touched the ball back for Jordan Henderson to smash an effort towards the Kop that rattled Foster's crossbar. On 53, Suarez set pulses racing once more after he nutmegged Billy Jones on the touchline, cut back inside and arrowed his shot over the bar. Then the post denied Kuyt. Free on the right hand side, the Dutchman took a touch before hammering against the upright. The Reds kept coming. Johnson raced towards the by-line and cut the ball back for Carroll who couldn't keep his header down. Then the most frantic of goal-line scrambles. Carroll was denied. Then Spearing saw his shot blocked. Then Maxi was beaten to the ball by McAuley. West Brom cleared the danger but Liverpool were relentless and Henderson fired inches wide of Foster's right post. Then Odemwingie silenced Anfield with his opener on 75 minutes. Mulumbu was quick, stealing possession from Johnson before sliding the ball into the forward who fired past Reina. Foster fumbled a shot as Liverpool looked to capitalise but Carroll and Suarez were both denied as they looked to pull level.