Liverpool 1, West Brom 0: Chris Lepkowski's big match verdict

Aug 30 2010 by Chris Lepkowski, Birmingham Mail

IF points could be given for endeavour, effort and perseverance then Albion would be sat at the top of the Premier League with the pace-setters.

But, sadly they aren’t.

Fernando Torres scored his 50th goal for Liverpool to ruin an excellent Albion display – the kind of performance the Baggies had never produced in any of their previous Premier League games against the Reds.

There was no humiliation, no cricket scoreline, no red faces.

A red card for James Morrison, perhaps, but otherwise it was one of those displays which suggests Roberto Di Matteo’s men are good enough to give the Big Four a scare.

It was one of those results where no blame could be attached to anyone. Defensively Albion were superb, with the Spaniard’s second-half goal a rare blemish.

Torres was, indeed, the first to test Albion. The Liverpool striker exchanged a one-two with Milan Jovanovic but found his shot easily taken by Scott Carson.

Peter Odemwingie, playing on the wing, tried to jink his way down the right-hand side after nine minutes but his trickery almost played Albion into trouble.

One step-over too many gifted the ball to Steven Gerrard, who played in Torres. He tried his luck with an instinctive effort but found his path blocked by two Albion defenders.

The memories of ex-boss Rafa Benitez loom large at Anfield. A ‘Visit Spain’ advert was still scrolling around the Anfield pitch when one of his better signings, World Cup winner Torres, was almost let in by lax Albion defending. Gonzalo Jara steamed in with a brilliantly executed tackle which simply couldn’t be mis-timed.

At the other end Marc-Antoine Fortuné was to be presented with Albion’s first worthwhile effort.

The new signing raced on to Morrison’s long pass but his shot was screwed hopelessly wide.

The returning striker was to go even closer when he struck a low shot through the crowded box in the 24th minute. Jose Reina needed to react quickly.

The Baggies even looked dominant around the half-hour mark, hitting Liverpool on the break and moving with pace.

They were awarded two corners in quick succession thanks to Jara’s threat down the right, with Daniel Agger filling the left-back role like a typical centre-half – Paul Konchesky’s arrival can’t come quick enough for the Reds.

At the back for Albion Jonas Olsson enjoyed a tremendous first-half.

Showing the kind of resilience which epitomised Albion’s play, the Swede was dominant against the Reds’attack. He was the flagbearer for an excellent Baggies defence.

Di Matteo’s stamp through this Premier League side was epitomised by Chris Brunt’s 100-yard dash back from an Albion corner to retrieve the ball from a dithering Jovanovic as the Reds broke swiftly.