Liverpool faced West Bromwich Albion in a pulsating contest at Anfield on Saturday, with the Reds claiming all three points following a 2-1 win.

The Reds got off to a fast start as Phillipe Coutinho, in particular, looked to make things happen for Liverpool while West Brom were happy to sit back and hit the home side on the break.

Salomon Rondon almost manufactured a chance for West Brom after 13 minutes but his cross was well blocked. James Milner then had Liverpool’s first genuine chance four minutes later but he headed his effort over the bar.

Liverpool broke the deadlock in the 20th minute as Sadio Mane converted from close range following a brilliant team move. The final pass had come from Roberto Firmino, whose finesse cross perfectly picked out Mane in the box.

Nathaniel Clyne almost set up Firmino with a low cross after 26 minutes of action before the Reds added a second 1 0 minutes later through Coutinho, who brilliant fired home at the near post after cutting in sharply from the left flank.

The last chance of the half fell to Clyne as he gathered and fired wide stretching for a shot. At the interval, however, the score remained 2-0 to the Reds.

Liverpool began the second half strongly as Mane found Coutinho, whose subsequent shot was blocked. The Senegalese then set up Firmino for a shot just 10 minutes later, but his effort hammered into the mid-drift of Gareth McAuley rather than the back of the net.

Joel Matip was then denied by a fine save from Ben Foster just short of the hour mark before Coutinho cut back for Emre Can, whose wild effort was off target. Can was then denied yet again by a last-ditch block.

West Brom were back in the game with 10 minutes to go as McAuley bundled home a corner. The Reds then almost hit back straight away, but Firmino’s effort was well saved.

In the end, it was the Red who emerged victorious in the contest, as the 2-1 win took them joint top of the table.