WEST BROMWICH, ENGLAND - Saturday, April 25, 2015: Liverpool's Dejan Lovren clears the ball off the line against West Bromwich Albion during the Premier League match at the Hawthorns. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

West Brom 0-0 Liverpool: Reds Held to Frustrating Draw at The Hawthorns

Liverpool had to settle for a goalless draw against West Brom on Saturday, as their top-four hopes were effectively put to bed.

WEST BROMWICH, ENGLAND - Saturday, April 25, 2015: Liverpool's Dejan Lovren clears the ball off the line against West Bromwich Albion during the Premier League match at the Hawthorns. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

West Brom 0-0 Liverpool
Premier League – The Hawthorns – Saturday, 26th April 2015

Pre-match

Brendan Rodgers made three changes to the side that lost so disappointingly to Aston Villa last weekend, with Glen Johnson, Jordon Ibe and Mario Balotelli all earning starts.

Alberto Moreno, Joe Allen and Lazar Markovic were the three to miss out, with the former suffering from a slight knock.

It was a must-win game for Liverpool, with anything other than three points all but ending any lingering hope of a top-four finish.

First-half

The Reds started in a 4-3-3 formation, with Emre Can and Johnson at right and left-back respectively, and Ibe and Raheem Sterling in the wide attacking positions.

Former Everton striker Victor Anichebe almost pounced from close-range after five minutes, but it was an otherwise low-key opening 20 minutes that Liverpool dominated possession-wise.

Coutinho fired a shot over the crossbar, while Steven Gerrard, making his 500th Premier League appearance, curled a free-kick inches over.

Coutinho missed the target with a Xabi Alonso-esque effort from the halfway line soon after, and the lively Balotelli sent a fizzing volley just over Boaz Myhill’s goal 10 minutes before half-time.

Goalless at the interval and although Liverpool had enjoyed 66 per cent possession, they had done very little with it.

WEST BROMWICH, ENGLAND - Saturday, April 25, 2015: Liverpool's captain Steven Gerrard takes a free-kick against West Bromwich Albion during the Premier League match at the Hawthorns. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Second-half

The second-half started in the same way the first-half ended, with West Brom happy to let the Reds have the ball but few chances being created.

Gareth McAuley headed well wide in the 54th minute, which was the home side’s first chance since Anichebe’s early opportunity.

Jordan Henderson was denied by a brilliant block by Joleon Lescott, with the goal seemingly gaping, while Craig Gardner volleyed into the side-netting following poor defensive work by Johnson.

Ibe rattled the crossbar after a brilliant run midway through the second-half, as Liverpool desperately searched for a priceless winner.

A combination of Simon Mignolet and the impressive Dejan Lovren denied Anichebe a soft goal following Martin Skrtel’s error, as the game showed signs of growing. After 74 minutes, Lallana and Fabio Borini replaced Ibe and Balotelli.

Gerrard shot straight at Myhill with 12 minutes left on the clock, and an outrageous Coutinho shot just missed the target two minutes later.

That elusive goal failed to arrive, sadly, with Mignolet denying Callum McManaman and Lovren heading wide at the other end in the dying seconds.

The two dropped points surely signals the end of Liverpool’s already remote Champions League hopes this season, with Manchester City set to face Aston Villa in the 5.30pm Premier League game on Saturday.

WEST BROMWICH, ENGLAND - Saturday, April 25, 2015: Liverpool's manager Brendan Rodgers during the Premier League match against West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Liverpool: Mignolet, Skrtel, Lovren, Can, Johnson, Gerrard, Henderson, Coutinho, Ibe (Lallana 75), Sterling, Balotelli (Borini 75).

Subs not used: Jones, Toure, Manquillo, Allen, Markovic.

West Brom starting XI: Myhill, Dawson, McAuley, Lescott, Brunt, Gardner, Fletcher, Yacob, Morrison (Baird 81), Berahino (Ideye 75), Anichebe (McManaman 84).

Subs not used: Olsson, Gamboa, Sessegnon, Rose.
Referee: Roger East
Full Match Report by the Press Association

Liverpool's slim Champions League hopes suffered a huge blow as they were held to a disappointing 0-0 draw at West Brom.

The Reds are fifth in the Barclays Premier League but only moved six points behind Manchester City before the champions' home game with Aston Villa.

Jordon Ibe hit the bar for the visitors and Boaz Myhill saved from Philippe Coutinho and Jordan Henderson.

But they were left to rue a pedestrian performance with little goal threat from Mario Balotelli, who was hauled off in the second half.

Simon Mignolet saved from Albion's James Morrison as West Brom edged towards safety but are still only seven points above the relegation zone.

Balotelli started his first top flight game since November while Ibe and Glen Johnson also returned as Steven Gerrard made his 500th Barclays Premier League appearance for Liverpool.

West Brom were unchanged for the visit of the Reds following their 2-0 win over Crystal Palace with the Baggies on the brink of safety.

And that was exactly how the hosts looked in an instantly forgettable first half where both sides' one-paced approach left The Hawthorns asleep.

WEST BROMWICH, ENGLAND - Saturday, April 25, 2015: Liverpool's Raheem Sterling in action against West Bromwich Albion FC during the Premier League match at the Hawthorns. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Liverpool, still smarting from their 2-1 FA Cup semi final defeat to Aston Villa, were expected to improve after a weak display at Wembley.

Yet Brendan Rodgers' side offered little attacking threat aside from two brief flashpoints which barely troubled the hosts.

First, Gerrard's free kick whistled over on 27 minutes before Balotelli's instinctive volley arrowed over eight minutes later.

Without the injured Daniel Sturridge, the Italy international was Liverpool's focal point but again let Rodgers' side down with a lifeless performance.

The second half at least brought some excitement within 10 minutes of the restart when the Baggies survived a triple scare.

Johnson's cross found Balotelli and his blocked shot fell to Coutinho, with Myhill saving his effort and then Henderson's follow-up.

A minute later Craig Gardner guided Chris Brunt's cross into the sidenetting for Albion with the second half instantly more enthralling than the first.

But Liverpool almost grabbed the lead on 62 minutes when Ibe swapped passes with Balotelli and darted into the area, only for his 10-yard effort to deflect off the bar.

Suddenly, the game had opened up and the Baggies nearly went ahead when Mignolet saved Morrison's header after Martin Skrtel made a hash of Callum McManaman's cross.

Liverpool looked the more likely to break the deadlock but it never came and Myhill calmly saved Gerrard's snapshot with 13 minutes left.

Mignolet had to ensure a point with two minutes left when he saved McManaman's effort at the near post.

But Dejan Lovren could have won it in injury time when he headed Gerrard's cross wide from eight yards.