TORRES AT THE DOUBLE IN ROVERS ROUT A double-blast from Fernando Torres helped inspire Liverpool to a convincing 4-0 win over Blackburn on Saturday lunchtime. The Spain international's first-half brace included a sublime volley before Daniel Agger and David Ngog boosted their side's goal difference late on.
It was the perfect reaction to the Reds' 3-1 midweek defeat to Chelsea and further proof that they have the resilience to take this year's title race to the wire.
The mid-afternoon triumph saw them leapfrog Manchester United at the summit of English football before Alex Ferguson's men reclaimed top spot with a narrow 2-1 victory at Sunderland.
All this on a day when Anfield remembered 96 Kopites who died at Hillsborough 20 years ago this week.
The Kop choir conducted a stirring version of their anthem, You'll Never Walk Alone, before the famous stadium was hushed for a minute's solemn reflection. There was a touch of class from the visitors, too, as former Reds defender Stephen Warnock laid a floral tribute beside the Kop goal.
Inspired, Liverpool set about an ambush. The Anfield scoreboard showed just five minutes had been played when Jamie Carragher's long ball was chested down by Torres, who swivelled and sent an unstoppable volley over the despairing arms of Paul Robinson. You'll not see a better goal on Match of the Day this month.
So far, so good in what Carragher labelled the most important league game of his 12-year career.
It should have been 2-0 on 15 minutes when Liverpool found Dirk Kuyt galloping unmarked into the Rovers half. Javier Mascherano was first to join him, but when the pass came, the Argentine laboured in deciding which way to shoot. Robinson saved and Torres fired the rebound over.
Much has been made of Liverpool's defending from set-pieces this week, but it was Blackburn's marking that was put into question on 24 minutes when Agger was given a free header on the back post following Xabi Alonso's dead ball. The Dane's effort was accurate enough but lacked the power to beat Robinson.
The tally of missed opportunities grew on 26 minutes when Kuyt headed straight at the goalkeeper after a beautiful cross from Emiliano Insua, with Yossi Benayoun failing to capitalise on Robinson's spill.
It was down to Torres to once again show his teammates how it's done on 33 minutes when he comprehensively out-jumped Andre Ooijer to head home after another pin-point free-kick from Alonso.
Billy Liddell was the last Red to net a hat-trick against Blackburn back in 1958; Torres now had two thirds of the game to emulate a player some regard as the greatest in Anfield history.
Liverpool came out for the second half eager to add to their lead. Alonso pulled the strings in the middle, while Rovers were unable to cope with the dual threat of Insua and Albert Riera down the left. Mascherano, meanwhile, was everywhere; chasing, harrying and controlling the midfield like a man possession. The Kop echoed their appreciation.
Kuyt was first to try and add a third after Insua found him 15 yards out. The Dutchman worked himself some space but his shot was deflected wide.
Riera twisted and turned his way through the visiting defence on 63 minutes before firing wide. The Reds backline might as well have got out their deckchairs and enjoyed the glorious Mersey sunshine.
Benitez took the opportunity on 74 minutes to rest Torres, denying him the possibility of a hat-trick but ensuring his freshness ahead of Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final return at Stamford Bridge.
The first real threat from Blackburn did not arrive until 76 minutes when a low cross evaded the home rearguard and found Christopher Samba alone at the back post. The striker took a touch and looked to sidefoot beyond Reina, but the Spaniard was equal to it on his 200th appearance.
Back at the other end, a third looked certain when Riera drove across the face of goal to substitute Nabil El Zhar. It eventually came back to Mascherano, whose shot couldn't navigate a wall of Blackburn defenders.
The third finally arrived on 83 minutes when Agger marked his return to the first team with a 35-yard piledriver into the top of the Kop net. It was a carbon copy of his goal here against West Ham two years ago and may just give Torres' earlier effort a run for its money in the goal of the month stakes.
The icing came on 90 minutes when Carragher's deep cross was headed back across goal by Lucas for fellow sub Ngog to nod into an empty net. Teams Liverpool: Reina, Insua, Carragher (captain), Agger, Arbeloa, Riera, Alonso, Mascherano, Kuyt, Benayoun, Torres. Subs - Gerrard, Skrtel, Ngog, Dossena, El Zhar, Leiva, Cavalieri
Blackburn Rovers: Robinson, Givet, Ooijer, Nelsen (captain), Andrews, Warnock, , Mokoena, Treacy, Dunn, Samba. Subs - McCarthy, Olsson, Grella, Doran, Bunn, Villanueva, Khizanishvilli
Referee: Mike Riley
Conditions: Sunny
Attendance: 43,466
Liverpoolfc.tv Man-of-the-Match: Torres
Breakdown 11:47 GMT : Match Starts
1 min : Blackburn kick off attacking the Kop end
2 mins : Prior to kick off there was a minute's silence to mark the 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster that takes place on Wednesday. RIP the 96. You'll Never Walk Alone
2 mins : There was also a great moment in which Stephen Warnock carried a wreath of flowers to the Kop end to pay his respects. Fantastic gesture
5 mins : GOAL! Fernando Torres: Stunning volley from El Nino. Great start
6 mins : First Booking: Daniel Agger:
10 mins : It's been a lively start from the Reds. Just the type of response needed following the shock defeat against Chelsea in Europe
15 mins : A lightning break and it should be 2-0. Dirk Kuyt puts Javier Mascherano through and he manages to keep his feet and fire a shot at goal that Robinson manages to beat away. Torres on the follow up... over the bar
20 mins : It's been all Liverpool so far. Free-kick to the Reds to the left of the area. Chance for Xabi to cross...It comes to nothing
24 mins : Xabi flights another free-kick to the far post....but Agger's header is well held by Robinson
25 mins : Kuyt's first-time ball almost sends Riera clear - Liverpool mean business today
26 mins : Ryan Nelsen is down after colliding with Robinson. A welcome breather for his teammates
27 mins : Another Sublime move but still only 1-0. Riera and Insua combine down the left with the Argentine sending over a great cross for Kuyt. The Dutchman's header is brilliantly saved by Robinson with Benayoun crashing the rebound over the top
30 mins : A long ball almost allows Samba in on goal but Reina is there to claim at the second attempt
31 mins : Riera drills in a low cross that Kuyt is inches away from turning home while Masch tests Robinson with a shot from the edge of the area
34 mins : First Booking: Keith Andrews:
34 mins : GOAL! Fernando Torres: A great header from Xabi's free-kick
37 mins : Riera sends over another great cross that Kuyt heads just over. It's been a commanding first-half display from the Reds
40 mins : David Dunn finally forces Reina to make a save with a tame strike from 25 yards
44 mins : It's been a stroll in the sun so far the Reds. Same again in the second half please!
45 mins : There will be a minimum of two minutes added time
12:34 GMT : Half Time Reached
12:49 GMT : Second Half Begins
46 mins : Substitution: Aaron Doran for Aaron Mokoena:
46 mins : Liverpool restart the match attacking the Kop end
46 mins : The Reds are immediately on the front foot with Riera firing a 25 yarder just wide of goal
48 mins : Free-kick to Blackburn...Dunn curls it harmlessly out of play
49 mins : Great ball by Yossi plays Riera in. The winger's cross is blocked. Corner ball...
50 mins : Rovers clear but Liverpool maintain possession
51 mins : It's another corner. Kuyt's low shot deflects wide with Torres inches away from being able to turn it home
52 mins : It's all Liverpool
53 mins : The players in red are first to the ball in everything. Rovers are lucky to be just the two goals down
56 mins : Dirk turns well but drills his shot high into the Kop
60 mins : Substitution: Carlos Villanueva for David Dunn:
61 mins : Insua and Agger have both sent efforts well wide while Torres almost got through when Rovers misjudged Reina's long kick
63 mins : A great cushioned ball from Insua sends Riera racing down the flank. The winger cuts in but arrows his right foot shot into the side netting
67 mins : Substitution: Vincenzo Grella for Tugay :
67 mins : Today's attendance is 43,466
70 mins : Free-kick to the Reds on the right hand touchline. Dangerous position...
71 mins : Xabi takes but it comes to nothing
71 mins : Great feet from Riera almost gets him through on goal but Nelsen makes a great last-ditch tackle to deny him
74 mins : Substitution: Nabil El Zhar for Fernando Torres:
75 mins : Sub Carlos Villanueva fires a long range effort just over the bar
75 mins : First Booking: Xabi Alonso:
77 mins : Best chance of the match for Rovers. Samba finds space at the far post but sees his poked effort well gathered by Reina
78 mins : It's been a somewhat quiet 200th LFC appearance for Pepe today. Hopefully he can mark it with yet another clean sheet
79 mins : Yossi is blatantly pushed to the floor on the edge of the box but the ref refuses to give a free-kick
80 mins : Riera's driving runs sees him hit the byline with Masch seeing is effort deflected after El Zhar was blocked off
83 mins : GOAL! Daniel Agger: A 30 yard thunderbolt!
85 mins : Substitution: David Ngog for Dirk Kuyt:
87 mins : Substitution: Lucas Leiva for Xabi Alonso:
89 mins : Benayoun sees his low shot deflect inches wide. It's been an emphatic win to move us clear at the top
90 mins : GOAL! David Ngog:
13:37 GMT : Match Over |
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