ROBBIE Keane once again proved to be Albion's nemesis as his deadly first-half double laid the foundation for Liverpool's return to the top.

The Republic of Ireland international saved his first top-flight goals in a Reds shirt for this live TV encounter, undoing the Baggies' good early work by notching in the 34th and 43rd minutes.

That made it eight goals in as many games for the ex-Wolves striker against the Baggies.

Liverpool right-back Alvaro Arbeloa added a harsh gloss to the scoreline when he netted in the 93rd minute.

Albion were far from overpowered by Rafa Benitez's title-contenders, although opportunities to finally open their Barclays Premier League goals account against the Reds were few and far between.

The reverse leaves Tony Mowbray's men sitting second-bottom, but only three points behind ninth place in one of the closest top-flight seasons in years.

The biggest bonus for the Baggies was seeing long-term knee-injury victim Filipe Teixeira make his Premier League bow as an early second-half sub after seven months on the sidelines.

James Morrison's failure to recover from a back injury in time gave Do-heon Kim the chance to make his first start in six weeks after recovering from medial knee ligament damage.

Teixeira started on the bench, which is where Reds hotshot Fernando Torres also began the game on his return from a hamstring problem.

Benitez made just one change from the midweek Champions League draw with Atletico Madrid, as Yossi Banayoun replaced Xabi Alonso.

Albion soon settled into their passing stride and Ishmael Miller beat the offside trap in the second minute to give the Reds an early scare.

But Pepe Reina was alert to the danger and comfortably beat the Baggies striker to Borja Valero's clever lofted ball over the top.

Liverpool's first effort on goal did not come until the tenth minute when Steven Gerrard fired in a low 25-yard shot which former Anfield team-mate Scott Carson gathered at the second attempt.

Three minutes later, the hosts should have taken the lead when Javier Mascherano prodded the ball through to Keane who was unmarked in the penalty area.

But the former Wanderers hitman, who never scored against Albion in an old-gold-and-black shirt, swivelled and under-hit his 15-yard effort straight at Carson.

A flowing Baggies move resulted in Robert Koren threading Valero through but Jamie Carragher did just enough to prevent the £4.7million club-record signing getting enough purchase on his shot from just inside the area.

Keane slotted Fabio Aurelio away down the left in the 24th minute and he cut the ball back dangerously but Jonas Olsson was on hand to clear at full stretch and prevent Dirk Kuyt pouncing in the six-yard box.

The Reds threatened again in the 29th minute when Gerrard powered forward and teed up Benayoun, whose shot from the right-hand side of the penalty area was partially blocked by Carson before it hit the unwitting Olsson's arm and went out for a corner.

It was only a temporary reprieve as five minutes later Albion again gifted Liverpool possession just inside their own half.

In the bllink of an eye, Gerrard slid Keane in on goal and the ex-Leeds man kept his cool to dink the ball over the onrushing Carson and into the net.

Mascherano tried his luck from 20 yards in the 39th minute but Carson managed to gather comfortably as the ball came through a crowd of players.

Back came Albion and Miller skipped past Aurelio three minutes later and raced to the right byline before firing in a right-foot cross which Reina almost spilled into his own net and was relieved to see the ball drop the right side of the post and out for a corner.

From the resultant Valero flag-kick, it was Liverpool, not Albion, who scored.

The hosts cleared to Aurelio on the left and he slid the ball in behind the Baggies defence for Keane, who rounded the on-rushing Carson and slotted into the empty net.

Albion started the second half brightly and Gianni Zuiverloon powered forward in the 52nd minute before finding Koren, whose shot from the edge of the area flew straight into Reina's arms.

Two minutes later, the industrious Koren was in the action again as he managed to wriggle clear of Gerrard before slicing his 20-yard shot wide.

Teixeira made his long-awaited Premier League bow in the 56th minute as part of a double change by Mowbray.

The midfield maestro replaced Kim, while Luke Moore came on for Roman Bednar.

Albion had a great chance to pull a goal back when Olsson's lofted diagonal ball in the 58th minute was misjudged by Daniel Agger to put Miller in the clear.

But the Hawthorns hitman's first touch let him down, allowing Reina to gather.

A simple clearance by Carragher on the hour-mark left Ryan Donk one-on-one with Keane and Albion's Dutch defender just did enough to shepherd the ball back to Carson.

But the Baggies were growing in confidence and Agger had to be at his best in the 62nd minute to prevent Miller getting on the end of Robinson's left-wing cross.

Mowbray made another change in the 71st minute when Chris Brunt replaced Miller.

The Northern Ireland international's first touch of the ball saw him curl a 25-yard free-kick just past the post and into the side-netting.

A minute later, Torres entered the fray by replacing Keane.

It took the Spain hotshot just seven minutes to get a sight of goal but he fired straight down Carson's neck from 20 yards.

Albion kept plugging away but were unable to add to the scoring and Arbeloa rounded things off in the third minute of stoppage time.

The visitors lost possession deep in their own half and the Spaniard raced onto Kuyt's ball before curling home a delicious left-foot shot, giving Carson no chance.

LIVERPOOL (4-4-2): Reina; Arbeloa, Carragher, Agger, Aurelio; Benayoun, Mascherano, Gerrard (Alonso 80), Riera (Babel 66); Kuyt, Keane (Torres 72). Subs not used: Cavalieri (gk), Hyypia, Insua, El Zhar.

ALBION (4-4-2): Carson; Zuiverloon, Donk, Olsson, Robinson; Koren, Greening, Valero, Kim (Teixeira 56); Miller (Brunt 71), Bednar (Moore 56). Subs not used: Kiely (gk), Hoefkens, Dorrans, Pele.

GOALS: LIVERPOOL - Keane (34 & 43), Arbeloa (90+3).

BOOKINGS: LIVERPOOL - Arbeloa (foul 67), Mascherano (foul 89). ALBION - Olsson (foul 18).

REFEREE: P Walton (Northamptonshire).

ATTENDANCE: 43,451.

ALBION STARMAN: Robert Koren.

PIC: MIDFIELD TUSSLE...Kim locks horns with Mascherano