Back in 1964, Bill Shankly opted for an all-red strip for his men. He thought it made them look bigger. And since then like most of Shankly’s thinking and mantras it still stands. Upton Park and the maroon shirt of West Ham forces Liverpool into the second strip. Second strips are just a money making exercise in today’s world of football and the colour and design changes from year to year. It has changed from gold to awful green to inky black to sitting-on-the-wall grey and to the occasional yet the traditional away white. And Senor Torres along with his team-mates had to wear his white socks, black shorts and a white shirt. And there’s something about white. White might remind Torres of his hated rivals Real Madrid, but you’ve got to admit there’s something about him in white. Before turning too gayish, he looked leaner, slickier and well polished. You’d think give him the ball on the green and he’ll swagger past them. And that was before kick-off.

Twenty minutes into the game, he confirmed all this and more. Given the ball while still outside the box and in a rather lateral position, he reminded me of his first goal at Anfield against Chelsea. This time it was probably better as he waltzed between more than one Ben Haim, but a couple of them and with the goal still on his side rather than in front he still prodded the ball through. 1-0 for Liverpool. Not too long ago that would have been the three points all but wrapped.

These days, the forwards or better the forward will still have a lot to do as the wrapping is not usually done till the credit card has been swiped and made sure there are available funds. The back four particularly the central ones looked vulnerable from the very first minute. Carragher has been the heart and soul of Liverpool for years. But the usual and dependent beat is sometimes missing the rhythm. With barely a minute on the clock his hesitancy on the ball allowed Hines the goal at his mercy. The pole let Carra off but the man in black was not as provident on the half-hour mark as his tug on the same lad propelled him to point to the penalty-spot from where the Italian Diamanti obliged.

The end to end stuff carried on after that as a Benayoun corner was headed by the captain in the path of Kuyt who with his striking instincts once again intact faintly poked in. Again that was not even enough for a half-time break with a leg in front as a corner at the other end was headed in by Cole.

The second forty-five minutes lacked the vibrancy of the first. Uncharacteristically while away from Anfield, Benitez took Kuyt off and asked Babel to turn the latter’s trade into craftiness. This time, he did not disappoint and he made his presence felt, while finally making it all happening as a delightful cross on Torres head was deposited into the net.

This time the deposit made it into the iron safe and the three points were never questioned.