The relief was evident as Fernando Torres ended his goal drought to give Liverpool a much-needed first English Premier League win of the season in a 1-0 result over West Brom.
The Spaniard, who had not scored in 10 games for club or country, volleyed home in the 65th minute to sink a battling Albion side that had stifled them throughout a disappointing encounter at Anfield.
To add to Albion's misery, James Morrison was red-carded five minutes from time for a wild kick at Torres.
But it was another below-par showing from Liverpool and should not mask the fact there is still work to do for Roy Hodgson to get his side to perform at their peak.
Even the appearance of Raul Meireles before kick-off could not galvanise them as hoped.
The Portuguese international signed a four-year contract after his 11.5-million-pound arrival from Porto and his drive and determination will be badly needed in midfield.
So too Paul Konchesky on the left-hand side. The Fulham defender watched from the stands and should complete his three-million-pound move later on Sunday.
But despite the goal for Torres, it is up front where Hodgson needs to strengthen.
The Spaniard got a glimpse of goal in the third minute when he cut inside from the left side and stung the fingers of Scott Carson with a 20-yard shot.
But it proved a rare highlight in a first half of frustration for both Torres and his team-mates.
Albion, who had not won at Anfield since 1967, did not seem daunted by the task and the recalled Marc-Antoine Fortune posed problems up front.
He combined well with Jonas Olsson in the 23rd minute, but his low shot lacked power and was well held by Pepe Reina.
Ironically, Liverpool's opener came from an Albion attack when Reina saved Gonzalo Jara's strike and the Reds exploited the gap where the right-back should have been.
Kuyt linked with Torres and floated over a cross for the frontman to finish.
He could have added a second when he met a Steven Gerrard cross at the back post, but Carson saved superbly.
Bolton fought back from two goals and a man down to draw 2-2 with Birmingham in a pulsating encounter at the Reebok Stadium on Sunday.
Roger Johnson finished a fine move to give Birmingham the lead after just four minutes, before Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen was sent off in the 37th minute for a silly slap on the defender.
Darren Bent's fourth goal in four games gave Sunderland a 1-0 victory over moneybags Manchester City with virtually the last kick of the game at the Stadium of Light on Sunday.
The match was in its 93rd minute when Bent went for a right-wing cross and found himself hauled to the ground just outside the six-yard box by right-back Micah Richards.
Aston Villa took the three points from the latest episode of the most-played fixture in English football but were made to sweat for the win by an Everton side that largely dominated possession.
Villa's caretaker manager Kevin MacDonald made two changes to the side that lost 6-0 at Newcastle seven days earlier. James Collins came into the defence in place of Ciaran Clark, and Nigel Reo-Coker was a late replacement for Stephen Ireland, who injured himself during the warm-up.