In the end it was another defeat for West Brom but the scoreline only told half the story. Usually the Baggies leave Merseyside having been subject to a sound beating. However, this time the players and fans can be proud of their performance. It was an afternoon where West Brom matched or bettered Liverpool in every aspect of the game apart from the one where Fernando Torres showed them how to finish. Had referee Lee Probert been kinder he would have seen Skrtl’s pull on Jonas Olsson early in the first half and awarded a penalty. If converted the Baggies confidence would surely have grown further and Liverpool’s desperate play may have become even more ragged. Throughout the first half Liverpool were ponderous in possession and they stood off Albion as Mulumbu, Brunt and Dorrans ran the show. In the second half Liverpool came more into it and managed to take the lead following a West Brom attack, Jara first had a shot blocked and then his follow up saved by Reina who then managed to throw out to Kuyt who was waiting over the half way line in the space vacated by Jara. Kuyt made his way to the penalty unchallenged and manage to tee up Torres who volleyed through Olsson’s legs and into the right hand corner of Carson’s goal. Just after Torres was set free in the area and his shot was smothered by Carson, who had a far more comfortable afternoon than against Chelsea a fortnight earlier. From then on the Baggies were chasing the game but they couldn’t really fashion a chance for either Fortuné, Odemwingie or Chris Wood. Their cause wasn’t helped when James Morrison, of all people, was sent off for a late but harmless challenge on Torres.
Defeat maybe but overall cause for much optimism in the Baggies’ ranks.
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