Crouch's wonderful 52nd minute header ensured Liverpool ended a momentous year in which they were crowned European champions with a 10th successive league victory.

Liverpool had to battle all the way to bank the three points against a workmanlike West Brom side and it looked like it was going to be a frustrating end to the year for the hosts before the Crouch leapt high above the visitors' defence to head Australia ace Harry Kewell's cross beyond Polish keeper Tomasz Kuszczak.

Kewell was by far Liverpool's best player before the break but the left winger was denied his first Premiership goal for a year by Kuszczak.

After a scrappy opening, the keeper leapt into action to parry Kewell's 14th minute effort from 25-yards behind his post for a corner before the same player was denied moments later after the West Brom defence had failed to cut out Djibril Cisse's low cross.

Liverpool's luck did not get any better in the 21st minute, a post denying John Arne Riise on his return to the side.

The ball rebounded into Kewell's path but once again the former Leeds United player was left frustrated as Kuszczak made a vital block.

They emerged for the start of the second half a lot livelier and West Brom's defence was finally breached when Crouch leapt high to place man-of-the-match Kewell's cross beyond the outstretched hands of Kuszczak.

It brought a wave of relief around Anfield and Liverpool ought to have gone on to win by a more handsome margin with Gerrard twice going close to doubling the lead before the end.

Meanwhile, Manchester United marked Sir Alex Ferguson's 64th birthday with an emphatic 4-1 dismissal of Bolton Wanderers at Old Trafford. Two goals from Cristiano Ronaldo, one from Louis Saha and an own goal from Bolton's Bruno N'Gotty confirmed United's superiority but it was the display of Wayne Rooney that more than anything fuelled the belief that United can yet pressurise runaway leaders Chelsea.

Sir Alex Ferguson told Sky Sports. "It was an excellent performance. On my 50th birthday here we lost 4-1 to Queens Park Rangers so that was a bit of a tonic today. They (Bolton) are a very difficult team to play against."

The Scot also hailed the performance of Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored twice. "He's had a difficult time but he's young and coming out of that. I thought in the forward play we were really excellent."

Earlier, leagueleaders Chelsea beat second-bottom Birmingham City by 2-0 at Stamford Bridge while Arsenal's bid to climb the table stalled in a goalless draw away to Aston Villa.