Liverpool 2-1 West Bromwich Albion

• Liverpool move to sixth in the table after win
• Defeat ends West Brom's three-match winning run
• Mario Balotelli starts on the substitutes' bench

Adam Lallana scored his first goal for Liverpool to help his team to a first Premier League win since August in a nervy display against West Brom.

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 corner to secure Liverpool a first league win since their 3-0 demolition of Tottenham.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers had said before the match that his team were unrecognisable from last season's title challengers.

The struggle to attack with the pace, intensity and incisiveness which took them to within two points of the title last May continues, but 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 what Rodgers described as a "big win".

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.

After missing seven games with a thigh injury, the striker is expected to return to full health for Liverpool's next match against QPR on 19 October.

But his failure to feature in the squad will at least dampen what could have been a potential club versus country row after Sturridge was left out of the latest England squad.

In Lallana, the hosts had a player who was bright throughout and the summer signing wildly celebrated his first Premier League goal since March, scoring after a delightful one-two with Henderson.

But Liverpool's defence remains vulnerable and the team has 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 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 hosts had collected just seven points from six league games before 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.

You can listen to commentary of the goals in a 60-second round-up by BBC Radio 5 live.

West Brom manager Alan Irvine: "I was disappointed in how we used the ball in the first half. I was disappointed we didn't show enough courage on the ball.

"I challenged the players to be braver at half-time and in the second half we gave Liverpool a difficult game. From our point of view, we've got a few things we're disappointed with."

Irvine on the West Brom penalty: "From where I was I couldn't be sure whether it was inside or out. Having been given it, for Saido Berahino to step up and take it with such confidence was great. I thought he worked the centre-halves extremely well. His movement for a young player is very good."