Steven Gerrard enjoyed the luxury of putting his feet up early after inspiring Liverpool's romp over 10-man West Brom at The Hawthorns.

The inspirational captain will play an essential role in his side's busy festive programme which could go a long way towards securing a place back in next season's Champions League.

So happy boss Rafael Benitez relished the chance to take Gerrard off with half an hour remaining with his job well and truly done.

Gerrard set up John Arne Riise's 17th minute opener with an inch-perfect lob and rattled home Liverpool's third in the 55th minute.

In between Florent Sinama Pongolle volleyed his first Premiership goal of the season against the rock-bottom Baggies who stood next to no chance after Cosmin Contra's 39th minute dismissal.

Shot-happy Riise grabbed his second with six minutes to go when he blasted home a rising effort from Xabi Alonso's cross to take his season's tally to four.

And there was still time for substitute Luis Garcia to finish off Riise's cross with two minutes left to round off a commanding display.

Only Russell Hoult's first-half penalty save was a bright spot for the beleaguered Baggies after Contra handled Antonio Nunez's goal-bound header earning him a red card and the Reds a spot-kick.

Hoult saved well from Milan Baros but his boss Bryan Robson was still left searching for his first win after seven matches in charge.

He had reacted positively to the thrashing by Birmingham by recalling strike pair Geoff Horsfield and Robert Earnshaw - but the home fans were soon getting restless as his tactics failed to inspire.

Benitez's men were clearly a class apart from the moment inside the first half-minute when Gerrard blazed a long-range effort over the bar from the edge of the box.

Gerrard tried another long-range effort in the 13th minute which curled not far past Hoult's left-hand post.

Horsfield might have made a difference when sent clear by Jamie Carragher's misplaced header in the 17th minute but he took too much time over his shot and was dispossessed by Sami Hyypia.

Immediately at the other end Baros ran unchallenged into the Baggies box before Thomas Gaardsoe's interception ended the danger.

Gerrard inspired the opener with a brilliant lob which found Riise on the left side of the Baggies box and the Norwegian volleyed under Hoult.

Albion had half-chances from set-pieces but already the pressure was beginning to tell amongst the home supporters.

Contra's moment of madness in the 39th minute when he clearly put his hand up to stop Nunez's effort all but ended Albion's chances of claiming some much-needed points.

Hoult kept the slim possibility alive by superbly blocking Baros' poor penalty before Purse booted the Czech Republic international's rebound off the line.

Confident Riise continued to rain shots on the Albion goal in the second half as the visitors camped in the home side's half.

Horsfield was caught marginally offside during a rare counter-attack - but the game was over when Pongolle grabbed the second in the 51st minute.

The Frenchman found Riise wide on the left before racing into the box to meet his cross with a bouncing volley past Hoult.

Just four minutes later Purse's foul on Baros on the edge of the box gave Gerrard the chance to earn his richly-deserved place on the scoresheet.

Baros soon joined Gerrard - who had received a warm ovation from both sets of fans - back on the bench as Benitez brought on his Spaniards and watched his side play out the match in cruise control.

Riise found the top of the net while substitute Luis Garcia might have done better with a shot straight into Hoult's arms.

With six minutes to go the brilliant Riise blasted home his second after the Baggies defence missed Xabi Alonso's cross.

The ball fell to Riise on the left edge of the box and he slammed a rising shot across Hoult and into the net to wrap up Liverpool's comprehensive win. Luis Garcia tapped in for the fifth two minutes before full-time.

Meanwhile Albion - floundering five points off safety and with the weight of history against them - head north to Manchester City in two days' time apparently needing a miracle to extend their stay in the Premiership.

Teams

West Brom: Hoult, Scimeca, Gaardsoe, Purse, Clement, Koumas, Johnson (Gera 45), Greening, Contra, Horsfield, Earnshaw (Hulse 72).

Subs Not Used: Robinson, Dyer, Kuszczak.

Sent Off: Contra (39).

Liverpool: Dudek, Finnan (Warnock 70), Carragher, Hyypia, Traore, Nunez, Gerrard (Alonso 62), Hamann, Riise, Sinama Pongolle, Baros (Luis Garcia 66).

Subs Not Used: Diao, Harrison.

Goals: Riise 17, Sinama Pongolle 51, Gerrard 55, Riise 82, Luis Garcia 89.

Att: 27,533

Ref: R Styles (Hampshire).