From Opta: Dejan Lovren (38) and Joel Matip (35) have made more than twice as many passes as any West Brom player so far. The highest number of passes from one player on the Albion side is Chris Brunt with 14. 

Image source, Getty Images

Just for a second, Philippe Coutinho looks to have worked some space to unleash a thunderbolt after cutting in from the left but the ball just gets away from him, allowing Darren Fletcher to tackle and head off the danger.

Craig Hignett
Former Middlesbrough and Blackburn midfielder on BBC Radio Merseyside

"Liverpool are in control of the game. West Brom have been forced to go back into their shell and keep their shape. They've done that well, but gaps are opening up and you can see it."

Stevie Cohen: My mum is from Liverpool, my bro is a Liverpool season ticket holder. But still...come on you Baggies!!!

Jeff Mwale: Liverpool need to push in two quick goals. 

30 minutes gone, no shots on target.

The West Brom fans aren't happy. They think Dejan Lovren's back-pass to his keeper was intentional and so the keeper's handling of it should be penalised. Jon Moss disagrees.

Image source, Reuters

Craig Hignett
Former Middlesbrough and Blackburn midfielder on BBC Radio Merseyside

"Chances don't come much clearer than that. They should be one down, Liverpool. Nobody picked up Chadli and he really should have hit the target. Maybe he didn't see it until late.

"Then at the other end, Firmino played a lovely lofted ball to Coutinho, who made a good run off Dawson, but he was stretching and couldn't control the volley."

Michael Coffer: Why do Liverpool move the ball so slowly at the start of games? No movement.

Nokeeroe: Liverpool will have too much for the Baggies to cope with this afternoon, I see a 2-0 win for the Reds.

In comes a wicked delivery that has Baggies players charging with intent... too much intent, though. The ref blows for a foul on Simon Mignolet.

Matt Phillips keeps trying to lob in long throws from the left but he doesn't have the distance. The home side do win a corner, though, and we know how dangerous they are from those...

Liverpool's turn to go close. Philippe Coutinho is on the stretch and fires a shot across goal and wide. Starting to warm up now.

Chance! A big one as well. The ball is swung over to the back post in the Liverpool box by Matt Phillips and it looks for all the world like Nacer Chadli is going to volley home, but he misses his shot. Replays show that Roberto Firmino got a small but crucial touch.

Image source, Rex Features

Words for Lucas from referee Jon Moss after a lunging foul on Jake Livermore. No booking, though.

Matt Phillips is the outlet. West Brom are looking to hit him quickly whenever they can. He is almost on to one as well, but the pass has just a bit too much on it and skips into the hands of Simon Mignolet. James Milner is going to have to stay vigilant at left-back.

Craig Hignett
Former Middlesbrough and Blackburn midfielder on BBC Radio Merseyside

"It's going to be a cagey one. West Brom are going to work really hard. But how long can they keep the pressing up if Liverpool continue to move the ball about? You would hope they would tire, and that could lead to openings."

Coutinho takes the corner but a combination of Hal Robson-Kanu and Darren Fletcher gets the ball away from danger.

Liverpool corner, won by Firmino...

Nacer Chadli has a lot of qualities. Lightning pace is not one of them. He lacks that extra zip to latch on to a ball in the Liverpool box before a Reds defender slides in to clear.

Image source, PA

Craig Hignett
Former Middlesbrough and Blackburn midfielder on BBC Radio Merseyside

"He should have hit the target. A great break. It was a poor ball from Yacob, but how quick was Coutinho to seize on it? The angle was closing on Firmino a little, but it was the best chance so far, without a doubt."

Image source, Reuters

Oh, so close! Liverpool spring into life after being gifted possession near halfway. Philippe Coutinho - the last man you'd want to invite to have a run - carries the ball to the edge of the box before finding Roberto Firmino in space but he pulls his shot a yard past the far post. Best chance so far.

Image source, Rex Features