WEST BROM 0 LIVERPOOL FC 2

On Sunday, the Reds were opened up at the back more than most games this season, a point acknowledged by Carragher in interview.
But a mixture of bad luck on Albion's part and some clinical finishing from Gerrard and Kuyt meant that we secured three points without playing well.
The sight of Carra and Arebloa squaring up (more the centre half bawling at the astonished Spaniard, really) was astonishing.
Carra's post-match explanation about his reaction being provoked by his desire to get Pepe Reina the clean sheet record was a good attempt to hide the truth.
In relaity, Arbeloa was caught napping on a few occasions during the match and was bailed out consistently by the Bootle lad.
One last-ditch block, when Arbeloa was seen gently jogging back to his 18-yard box was particulalry brilliant.
Certainly, Arbeloa needed a bit of a strong word in his ear, but perhaps he didn't need the sight of a frothing Carragher ready to lamp him one.
Still, it showed how much the 31-year-old cares.
It was also good to see Alonso stepping in and having the authority to give Carra a bit of a stern talking to.
A sign of Xabi growing in stature in this Liverpool squad.
For me, Carra's episode was the culmination of disappointment and anger that the Premiership title had slipped him by.
Gerrard still has a few years left to grab that ultimate league title, but time is running out for the defender.
This season, we've maybe seen the first evidence that Carragher has lost a touch of pace than in previous years.
There's strong competition from Skrtel and Agger these days, and it will be an interesting choice for Rafa next year as to exactly who his first choice centre half pairing will be.
The manager willl be wanting to keep Agger onside after his contract palava and Skrtel can be as solid as they come.
That said, Carragher has had a fine season, and should probably remain first choice for at least another 12 months.
He's never been blessed with great pace and his reading of the game can be second to none.

It was good to see Kuyt bag a cracker and an admirable second half of the season for the Dutchman has transformed him, in the fans' eyes, from someone they would quickly sell to a performer they must keep at Anfield.
Lucas also had an efficient game and he deserved a goal with his surge forward, lovely quick feet and a cute dinked finish that slipped the wrong side of the post and deserved more.
He seems to have carved out a decent spoiling midfield role when he's called upon by Liverpool, but the jury remains massively out on him.

This is a crucial summer break for the Reds and a few good buys could make this year's genuine title bid the real thing in 12 months time.
There is still a lot of blinkered opinion circulating among some of our fans. Let's be honest, we didn't quite have enough to pip the Mancs this time round.
We can argue about Torres and Gerrard not playing enough together, but that's why big teams have big in-depth squads.
I don't want to blow any Manc trumpet, but when Berbatov lollops around doing nothing, Rooney is on top of his game.
And when the Crocky lad is moodily having little effect, Tevez is running round like a man possessed.
Sadly for us, when Gerrard and Torres are either not quite fit or off song, you can't really rely on Ngog, Kuyt and Riera to produce consistent match-winning football.

Similarly, Reds are pointing to the reams of luck United have had this season, which I think is wide of the mark.
Certainly, the Spurs penalty was a huge help and the Blackburn game was handed to them on a plate by the ref, but good teams make their own luck.
It should be remembered that Liverpool had their moments of fortune, particulalry at the start of this season, with a welter of last-minute goals and borderline red cars all helping our cause.
It's been far too many home draws which have cost us. Simple as that. You can excuse the odd off day against Boro away, being held by a battling Everton, the 4-4 draw against an Arshavin-inspired Srsenal or even the unust debacle at White Hart Lane.
But stalemates at home to West Ham and Fulham, allowing the now woeful Hull take a point off us at Anfield, two nil nils against Stoke and, probably the worst of the lot, a 1-1 against Wigan at the JJB when we should have torn them to pieces.

As for the continuing bitterness between Rafa and Fergie, which the likes of Lee Dixon alluded to on MOTD2, a league title for United this year doesn't stop Alec from being pretty objectionable.
So, why start cuddling him now?
Yes, they deserve the league title, but it's right to applaud the players, but hardly the manager.
Shall we start praising Drogba and calling them an admirable human being despite his ludicrous behaviour on the field.
Ferguson's collusion with Allardyce recently over a non-existent hand signal was one of the most petty accusations I've seen in many a Premiership year.
Rivalries can be pretty depressing sometimes. Half the flags at Old Trafford for the Arsenal match were about Benitez.
Why can't teams proclaim their teams own brilliance without alluding to their opponents?
Liverpool are as guilty of this sin as any others. Everything seems to be about rubbing the others nose in the dirt.
The fun seems to have evaporated from the game and it's all about malicious point scoring.
On Merseyside its just the same, a point illustrated on a wet afternoon yesterday.
Me and a mate were getting out a car in the West Yard on The Strand to see a bloke, dressed in an EFC kagool, stop in front of a billboard on the railings.
With a look of menace, he stopped and deposited copious amount of spittle on the billboard before walking off.
I wasn't even sure what the billboard was, so I jogged round to see. Ah yes, an advert for the new LFC magazine with a picture of Torres on the front.
Mmmmmmmmm, the love of the game.