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Fernando Torres scored for the first time since April to put a flattering gloss on Liverpool’s performance against West Bromwich Albion this afternoon. Roberto Di Matteo’s side, who had James Morrison sent off late on, were a comfortable match for Liverpool throughout but one touch of class from the Spain international gave Albion another painful lesson away from home.

Despite Torres, Steven Gerrard, Daniel Agger and Milan Jovanovic all returning after missing the Europa League play‑off win at Trabzonspor, Liverpool started as poorly as they had done in Turkey. Ponderous, disjointed and overly reliant on the long ball, Hodgson’s side invited the pressure that duly came from the composed, intelligent visitors, for whom Youssouf Mulumbu shielded the back four expertly while Morrison and Graham Dorrans took the game to the home side.

Albion, with Marc-Antoine Fortuné making his second debut for the club following his £2.5m return from Celtic, lacked both a cutting edge and the benefit of the doubt from the referee Lee Probert to make this a damaging afternoon for Liverpool. The match official dismissed Albion’s appeals for a penalty in the 28th minute, when Jonas Olsson was clearly wrestled to the floor by Martin Skrtel, and again when Christian Poulsen almost removed the substitute Somen Tchoyi’s shirt in the second half. Probert did even matters out, however, when he refused to award a spot-kick when Gonzalo Jara handled inside his own area.

The visitors’ grievance was compounded in the 65th minute when, after Jara had failed to convert Fortuné’s cut-back to the far post, Liverpool counter-attacked to devastating effect.

Dirk Kuyt led the break, exchanged passes with Torres, and surged onwards down the left before picking out the unmarked Spaniard on the edge of the area with a perfectly weighted chip. Torres connected cleanly on the volley and found the bottom corner of Scott Carson’s goal. With five minutes remaining the striker was felled by a late swipe from Morrison, and Probert had no hesitation in showing the Albion midfielder the red card.

Premier LeagueLiverpoolWest BromAndy Hunterguardian.co.uk