Liverpool beat West Bromwich Albion 2-1 at Anfield on Saturday as the Reds won in the Premier League for the first time since August.
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Goals from Adam Lallana and Jordan Henderson did the damage for Brendan Rodgers’ side after Saido Berahino had equalized from the penalty spot for West Brom.
With the win Liverpool are now up to seventh spot with 10 points from their opening seven games. West Brom are in 13th on eight points.
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Liverpool started brightly early on as Raheem Sterling was at the center of everything good for the Reds and the England international took on three players in the 13th minute and his blocked shot almost fell to Adam Lallana but Ben Foster saved well. Rodgers’ side continued to push for the opener as Rickie Lambert was played in and his first touch set him up to lob Foster but the England striker instead tried to bend the ball around the Baggies ‘keeper who tipped the effort wide for a corner.
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The Reds continued to press as half time approached with Steven Gerrard whipping in a free kick to the back post which Foster saved well as he looked into the blazing sunshine in Merseyside. Saido Berahino had a decent shot on goal as the young English forward drove forward from the halfway line and forced Simon Mignolet into a great stop down low after his fierce strike.
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Lallana struck right on half time to make it 1-0 to Liverpool with a delightful strike. The former Southampton star cut in from the left, played a delightful one-two with Jordan Henderson and drilled a shot across goal to open his account for Liverpool.
189 - Adam Lallana has scored his first Premier League goal for 189 days (29th March v Newcastle). Solace.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 4, 2014
After the break West Brom won a penalty kick in the 56th minute as Dejan Lovren brought down Berahino and it looked to be outside the box by referee Mark Clattenburg pointed to the spot and the Baggies forward picked himself up to make it 1-1 by dispatching the PK. That was Berahino’s fifth goal of the season, equaling his tally from the 2013-14 campaign.
Liverpool’s Adam Lallana, center, celebrates scoring his team’s opening goal with teammates Philippe Coutinho, right, and Jordan Henderson during their English Premier League soccer match against West Bromwich Albion at Anfield, Liverpool, England, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2014. (AP Photo/Peter Byrne, PA Wire) UNITED KINGDOM OUT - NO SALES - NO ARCHIVES
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Liverpool responded well as Sterling caused havoc in the box and pulled the ball back to Henderson who slotted home to make it 2-1. Relief.
An inviting cross from Chris Brunt on the left found Berahino but the English striker sent a tame headers towards Mignolet as West Brom pressed for an equalizer. Mario Balotelli came off the bench for the final 25 minutes and Liverpool could have added to their lead but saw out a nervous ending to record a much-needed win.
LINEUPS
Liverpool: Mignolet; Manquillo (Johnson, 64'), Lovren, Skrtel, Moreno; Gerrard, Henderson; Lallana, Coutinho (Lucas, 75'), Sterling; Lambert (Balotelli, 64')
Goals: Lallana (45'), Henderson (61')
West Bromwich Albion: Foster, Gamboa, Lescott, Dawson, Pocognoli, Dorrans (Mulumbu, 71'), Morrison (Blanco, 81'), Gardner, Brunt (Samaras, 87') Sessegnon, Berahino
Goal: Berahino (56')