Premier League - Torres cures Liverpool hangover
Late goals from Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard gave Liverpool a 2-0 win over Fulham on Saturday, despite a sluggish performance.
Torres returned to action after a spell on the sidelines with a groin injury as a 71st minute substitute, and it was his introduction that finally unlocked a stubborn, if tired, Fulham defence.
The Spaniard swooped to beat Antti Niemi in the Fulham goal with just nine minutes remaining before Gerrard sealed all three points from the penalty spot four minutes later.
The result meant Liverpool maintained their unbeaten start to the season and sent Rafa Benitez's side into fourth place, level on points with Chelsea but ahead on goal difference.
Off the back of Tuesday's 8-0 win over Besiktas, Benitez was convinced to name an unchanged side for the first time this season; indeed for the first time since October last year.
But the same players who so thrilled Anfield just days ago failed to recreate a similar performance to the one that left the Turkish side wishing they had never set foot on Merseyside. It was very much a case of 'after the Lord Mayor's show' and Liverpool struggled to find any kind of rhythm or penetration to their game.
But just as the Anfield faithful were beginning to contemplate an unpalatable seventh stalemate of the season, up stepped Torres, the club's record signing. The former Atletico Madrid marksman proved his goalscoring credentials with a typical striker's goal - indeed, a typical English striker's goal - when he took down a long punt upfield from compatriot Jose Reina before turning Aaron Hughes and finishing past Niemi.
Anfield breathed a collective sigh of relief, but they were soon in full celebration mode as Peter Crouch was tripped by Carlos Bocanegra on the edge of the penalty area moments later. Referee Steve Tanner had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and skipper Gerrard coolly sent Niemi the wrong way to seal the win.
It looked like being a frustrating evening for Liverpool, for whom Crouch had the best effort during an otherwise dull opening period when he hit the cross bar with a looping header just before the break.
As a spectacle, the match was infinitely more pleasing after half-time, as Liverpool pushed forward with more intent in their search for the opener.
Niemi had to be alert on a number of occasions, not least to stop two Andriy Voronin efforts - the first a classy volley just after the restart and the second a powerful drive from just inside the penalty box - and Fabio Aurelio's 55th minute free kick.
When Yossi Benayoun - so clinical on Tuesday - saw Niemi leap to reach his curled shot on 63 minutes and Voronin hit the side netting, Liverpool fans could have been forgiven for their exasperation. Their side had dominated the game, but simply could not convert their possession into goals.
Fulham even briefly threatened to nick all three points, but Shefki Kuqi was inches away from sliding home Hameur Bouazza's teasing ball across the face of goal.
But that is as near as Fulham came to scoring, and the Cottagers' inability to hold out at the back for a full 90 minutes was again their undoing as Torres served up the perfect cure to Liverpool's Champions League hangover. |
發表於 2007-11-11 04:23 AM
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發表於 2007-11-11 12:55 PM
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