BENITEZ WELCOMES IMPROVEMENT

Rafael Benitez hailed his new-look Liverpool after they finally
kick-started their season with a quality performance.

The 3-0 win over West Brom sends Liverpool into their Champions League game
with Monaco on Wednesday in good heart after previous displays this season
had lacked the guile and imagination that the new Anfield chief requires.

Benitez said: "We played much better, there was more movement in attack
which gave us more possibilities and opportunities.

"After the break we were able to counter-attack and the result was a good
one for Liverpool.

"But it is just a little step forward, we win 3-0 and it is OK, but there
are a lot more steps to come from us. I liked a lot of the team play but we
still gave the opposition too many opportunities."

Benitez insisted there were no injury problems involving Steven Gerrard,
who scored the first goal and produced another match-winning performance.

The Spaniard said: "Steven came off because he was a little tired and it is
good when you are winning well to bring on others."

And Benitez insisted Gerrard can still improve as a player. "He is still
able to get better and he will with better players around him," he said.

"You can always learn when you have good people like Xabi Alonso and
Dietmar Hamann around you and he is learning to control his running and
playing with more intelligence and thought."

Albion boss Gary Megson brushed aside talk of the Albion board meeting to
discuss his future.

"I have read a lot, but none of it is emanating from me. All I can do is my
job," he said.

"I don't know what my future is, I do not have a crystal ball, nobody does.
Nothing has been said to me about my future."

On the match, Megson said: "We have to learn lessons and we must not give
teams so much respect in this division.

"We also have to realise that this division is not just about passing the
ball, it is about what you do when you do have possession.

"Even though they scored first I felt we could get back into it but the
second just before the break took the wind out of our sails."

Megson was pleased with the substitute appearance of £3.5million new
striker Robert Earnshaw.

He said: "We decided not to throw him straight in. He had been away with
Wales for 10 days, arrived at our place on Thursday and travelled the day
after.

"It was a bit unfair to then throw him straight in against Liverpool at
Anfield but when he did get on their were glimpses of what we want from him.

"One diagonal run behind Sami Hyypia was very unlucky and he deserved to
score from his effort."