Fernando Torres scored a fantastic winner in the second half to give Liverpool their first win of the season.

Following a draw and a loss, the Reds were in the relegation zone before this game, and it was upto Roy Hodgson’s men to put in a good performance against a clearly inferior West Brom side.

In the first half, the game was quite cagey, and though Liverpool dominated most of the possession, they hardly had a decent chance. Their only shot on target came in the third minute, when a long-range curler from Torres was caught by Scott Carson in the West Brom goal.

West Brom had a chance or two of their own, the best of them through Marc-Antoine Fortune. The former Celtic loanee, playing his first match since his return from Scotland, tested Pepe Reina with low shot from a tight angle, which the Spanish goalkeeper collected at the second attempt.

Torres had a couple of half-chances, but the striker’s ineptitude was clearly highlighted as he failed to make anything of either of them.

In the second period, the Reds continue to apply the pressure and Steven Gerrard tried an audacious volley from 40 yards which went wide.

The home side were almost gifted a goal by West Brom, when defender Jonas Olsson nearly put the ball in the back of his own net whilst attempting a back-pass to Carson.

In the 64^th minute, West Brom threatened, but after Reina had saved Gonzalo Jara’s effort, he released Dirk Kuyt down the right flank. After some neat interplay between himself and Torres, the Dutchman set up the latter with a lofted ball from the right, which the Spaniard volleyed low past Carson and into the back of the net.

This was Torres’ first goal in 10 games for the Reds, his first since 28^th March, to be precise, but it was one of tremendous quality.

Torres almost got his second of the game a few minutes later, when he picked out by Gerrard, but he directed his effort straight at Carson.

Liverpool had a penalty appeal in the 82^nd minute, when Torres was brought by Jara with his arm, but referee Lee Probert waved away the claims from the fans and players.

A few moments later though, referee Probert did spot James Morrison’s takedown of Torres and sent him off straightaway. This was Torres’ last contribution in the game, before the Spaniard was substituted to a standing ovation in the last minute.

After the game, the Baggies’ manager Roberto Di Matteo said, “We are massively disappointed. We put in a good performance against a very good team and they needed a piece of quality by one of their players.”  Despite the disappointment though, there will be lots of positives to take away from the game for West Brom.

Liverpool, on the other hand, will be massively relieved to get that first win out of the way, as manager Roy Hodgson stated after the game.

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