FOR a long time yesterday Raul Meireles must have wondered what he had let himself in for.

Liverpool’s new £11.5million signing from Porto watched on from the main stand as his team-mates

toiled down below.

After the hard luck story against Arsenal and the chastening experience at Manchester City, this clash with West Bromwich Albion was the ideal chance to build confidence and kick their Premier League campaign into gear.

Victory was ultimately Liverpool’s but they will take precious little out of the game other than the three points.

For over an hour Roy Hodgson’s men struggled to break down a defensive line which shipped half a dozen goals at Stamford Bridge a fortnight earlier.

Lethargic and seemingly devoid of invention, chances were desperately thin on the ground and former Liverpool goalkeeper Scott Carson was reduced largely to the role of spectator.

In fact there were worrying spells when if anyone was going to find a way through it looked like it would be the newly promoted side.

In the end the difference between the teams was a strike of true quality from Fernando Torres.

The Spaniard’s 50th goal at Anfield midway through the second half spared Liverpool’s blushes and ensured a sense of calm will ensue during the international break.

However, with games away to Birmingham City and Manchester United next up in the league, Hodgson will be under no illusions that a major improvement is required if those trips are going to be fruitful.