Adam Lallana scored his first Premier League goal for Liverpool to help his team to a first league win since August in a nervy display against West Brom.
Lallana combined beautifully with Jordan Henderson to beat Ben Foster at the far post seconds before the break.
Liverpool’s defending was far from convincing and Dejan Lovren conceded a controversial penalty to allow Saido Berahino to level from the spot.
But much to the hosts’ relief, Jordan Henderson struck five minutes later.
Raheem Sterling found Henderson and the England midfielder threaded the ball low into the far post to secure Liverpool a first league win since their 3-0 demolition of Tottenham in late August.
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers had said before the match that histeam were unrecognisable from last season’s title challengers and although the struggle to attack with the pace, intensity and incisiveness which took them to within two points of the title last May continues, the victory will ease the pressure on the manager and his team.
West Brom, arriving at Anfield in confident mood after three successive victories in all competitions, did trouble a frail Liverpool defence on a number of occasions but the hosts held on for Rodgers described as a “big win”.
Lallana strikes again against Baggies |
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Adam Lallana’s first goal of his career also came against West Bromwich Albion, for Southampton, at The Hawthorns in April 2008. He is now just one short of 50 league goals. |
On occasions, the wastefulness of Philippe Coutinho and Sterling contributed to Liverpool’s bluntness, and the hosts were especially hesitant on the counter-attack.
Two chances fell to Rickie Lambert, preferred to Mario Balotelli and making a rare start for the club, but while the striker forced Foster into a fine save with his first effort, his failure to score highlighted the absence of the injured Daniel Sturridge.
In Lallana, the hosts had a player who was bright throughout and the summer signing wildly celebrated his first Premier League goal since March, placing the ball into the far post after a delightful one-two with Henderson.
But Liverpool’s defence remains vulnerable and the team as now gone seven Premier League games without a clean sheet at Anfield.
In the first half, a rare mistake by Henderson set Berahino free to test Simon Mignolet from 20 yards and, moments before Liverpool’s opener, the England Under-21 international, unchallenged in the six-yard box, headed a difficult chance over the crossbar.
The Baggies striker, the leading English scorer in the league this season, eventually increased his season tally to five league goals, although it was a dubious penalty.
Lovren felled Berahino on the edge of the box, but referee Michael Oliver pointed to the spot and the 21-year-old’s rasping drive through the middle left Mignolet with no hope.
The Anfield crowd were understandably anxious as the host had collected just seven points from six league games prior to this match.
But five minutes after conceding, Henderson secured the winner. Sterling, having had a penalty appeal turned down, returned to his feet and found the effervescent midfielder, who side-footed beyond Foster.
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Source: BBC Sport