BAGGIE BATTLE ... Mulumbu and Gerrard fight for the ball
And he was one Red who did actually find the net in a half-time penalty competition.
Yet any laughs last night were entirely at Liverpool’s expense, judging from the grins that lit up the West Brom bus as it headed back down the M6.
SHELVE IT ... Jonjo Shelvey finds the back of the net but it's ruled out for offside
And for Baggies boss Steve Clarke in particular, there will be few sweeter victories all season — beating the club from which he was axed in the summer after 18 months working alongside Kenny Dalglish.
True, Clarke had the heroics of keeper Ben Foster and rock-solid defender Gareth McAuley to thank for this win.
They helped West Brom notch a first double over the Reds in 46 years, while ending a run of one point from 18.
HOT STEW ... Downing fires in a shot for Liverpool
But the odd moment aside, the only thing they looked like shooting with any accuracy was themselves — in the foot.
Not for the first time, either. And when they did get it on target — and that was pretty rare last night — they came up against an inspired keeper.
How ironic then, that on the weekend when England keeper Joe Hart was in the spotlight for his Southampton clanger, Foster — who called time on his international career last year — produced a top-drawer display.
Every time he was called upon, he delivered. Never more so than when flinging himself left on 76 minutes to push out Steven Gerrard’s spot-kick.
It had arrived after Jonas Olsson made the slightest of contacts with the back of Luis Suarez, leaving ref Jon Moss in no doubts, even if BOTH bosses had their suspicions.
That save was far from a one-off, either, as Foster came up trumps to deny Daniel Agger, Stewart Downing, Glen Johnson and Jordan Henderson at various stages.
LOOK WHO'S HERE ... Robbie Fowler and John Bishop on the pitch at half-time
And just to prove the old adage about making your own luck, after a string of brilliant saves, no one could deny Foster a stroke of good fortune.
That had arrived in a turgid first half when Baggies right- back Steven Reid sliced a Jonjo Shelvey cross inches over his own crossbar.
There will be few clearer cut winners of any man-of-the-match award than Foster.
So the fact McAuley pushed him all the way shows exactly how good the West Brom backline really was.
One McAuley block to keep out the ever-dangerous Suarez was magnificent. As was his follow-up clearance from lying on his back.
So there could hardly have been a more fitting scorer than the Baggies centre-back.
KOP THAT ... Gerrard looks on in frustration
He lost Daniel Agger and glanced home Chris Brunt’s corner nine minutes from time, after Pepe Reina had made his first save of the night in pushing Youssouf Mulumbu’s drive behind.
Suddenly the unthinkable was on, and — from facing the disappointment of a draw — the Reds were staring down the barrel of a defeat.
And this against a West Brom team still seeking a first league win of 2013.
Any doubts about that outcome were well and truly ended as stoppage time approached.
Baggies’ rampaging Romelu Lukaku capped the ultimate counter-attacking thrust by firing into the corner.
PAYING THE PENALTY ... Gerrard sees his spotkick saved
At the other end, Foster punched the air in delight at a job well done, while Rodgers simmered with rage. The West Brom keeper, by his own admission, is one of those players who just hates watching football when he is not involved.
Somehow you think he might be hammering the Sky+ for this one.
Rodgers, on the other hand... maybe not.
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