West Brom were the first team to be relegated from the Premier League this season after being sunk by goals from Steven Gerrard and Dirk Kuyt at the Hawthorns.
The Baggies started the brighter and Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina pulled off a fine double reaction save to deny Jonathan Greening after five minutes.
But Gerrard put the visitors in front on 28 minutes when he dispossessed Shelton Martis and coolly beat Dean Kiely.
Kuyt then doubled the advantage on 63 minutes with a fine shot from the edge of the box.
But the Baggies refused to go down quietly and substitute Luke Moore hit the post before Marc-Antoine Fortune had a goal disallowed for offside.
Albion, sticking to their attacking policy to the last, have been battling the drop all season and this was their third relegation from the top flight in seven years.
They fought to the last, and there were more cheers than tears from their defiant fans at the end.
But Liverpool were a class above as Gerrard struck his 24th goal of the season - his best ever tally - in the first half and then set up Kuyt for the second just after the hour mark.
It was enough to take them to within one point of securing runners-up spot in the league.
West Brom made three changes from the side that beat Wigan last week and were rocked before kick-off by Sunday newspaper allegations against striker Roman Bednar, who was suspended pending a club investigation.
Boss Tony Mowbray brought in Robert Koren, Ryan Donk and Youssouf Mulumbu for Borja Valero, Marek Cech and Graham Dorrans, the latter out for the season with a broken foot.
Liverpool recalled Daniel Agger and Emiliano Insua for Martin Skrtel and Fabio Aurelio.
Highlight:
West Bromwich Albion v Liverpool
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