REDS 4-1 PORTO: THE VERDICT

canz85

Fernando Torres inspired Liverpool to a 4-1 victory against group leaders Porto. Here's the pick of the post-match reaction.


The national newspaper
Benitez got Torres for roughly £21.5 million and that is a lot. If the club win their first Premier League title, lift this trophy for a sixth time, or even make the lucrative trip to Moscow in May, who is counting, though? The scoreline might make it look as if it did not take a special player to defeat FC Porto, but do not believe a word of it. At the point when Torres got Liverpool's noses in front again, a crisis was unfolding. The scores were level at Anfield and, across Europe, in Istanbul, where Marseilles were holding Besiktas. One more goal from the French side and Liverpool would have been out. Instead, it was Torres who showed his mettle with a coolly taken goal to set up an impressive victory and Marseilles who blinked by losing to a team who conceded eight at Anfield on their previous Champions League outing. Liverpool must still win when they travel south for the final group game on December 11, but the most slender margin will now be enough. It is the sort of set-piece European affair in which Benitez specialises; ask Mourinho, his former sparring partner.
The Times
  
The player
Torres is a world-class striker and he's probably up there with anyone now in striking terms. I only have to mark him in training, thankfully.
Jamie Carragher
  
The fan
My big match verdict - Quaresma is c**p.
Crazycolt, LFC.TV message board

The boss
The most important thing is the team, so I say thank you for the support. To the players it was important and it was also for me, so I say a thank-you, a big thank-you. Rafa Benitez
  
The presenter
Fernando Torres is now half way to becoming the 20-goal a season striker we've needed since little Michael left. It looks like being a two-way battle between him and Stevie G to be Liverpool's top scorer, but Javier Mascherano's performance on the night can't be overlooked. That sprint back to make a crucial tackle is becoming somewhat of a trademark for the Argentine, and I for one think we'll be a poorer side if he's not here next season.
LFC TV presenter Claire Rourke
  
The fan
To rave about a 4-1 home win is easy; that's only painting half the picture. Benitez is well on the way to transforming a once two-dimensional team back into a true force in Europe. Liverpool controlled the game from start to finish. In spite of the fact that the team is still not firing on a cylinders, it's certainly shifting through the gears. Make no mistake, Porto are a strong side home and away, but Liverpool took them to pieces like a seasoned boxer, raining blows to their opponent before finishing them off with the swagger of a prize fighter.
Joe-El, LFC.TV message board
  
The former player
It was a very emotional evening at Anfield and what we got in the end was another one of those fantastic European nights. The fantastic tackle from Javier Mascherano to stop Porto when they were in a very dangerous situation set the tone for the night. It was nervous for a long time after they equalised but Harry Kewell and Peter Crouch both made a big difference when they came on. Kewell showed the undoubted quality he has and the second goal from Torres was absolutely wonderful. I was commentating for .tv and I was jumping up and down in the gantry - it was just a great moment and Torres is a very special player. I'm confident we'll book our place in the last 16.
David Fairclough
  
The journalist
Torres again showed he is a class apart from the other strikers in the Premier League. All of his goals are different and he is just a class act. I also thought Harry Kewell made a big difference when he came on. His Liverpool career may not have gone as he would have liked but there is no doubting his ability. He gave Liverpool something different when they needed it most and the way he set up Torres for the second goal was outstanding. Kewell and Torres stood up to be counted and their class showed. If he can stay fit, Kewell could re-emerge as a key player at Anfield. I believe Liverpool will qualify for the last 16 of the Champions League. They have the CL experience and know what they have to do.
Paul Joyce of the Daily Express

garyson

I think this one
Torres again showed he is a class apart from the other strikers in the Premier League. All of his goals are different and he is just a class act. I also thought Harry Kewell made a big difference when he came on. His Liverpool career may not have gone as he would have liked but there is no doubting his ability. He gave Liverpool something different when they needed it most and the way he set up Torres for the second goal was outstanding. Kewell and Torres stood up to be counted and their class showed. If he can stay fit, Kewell could re-emerge as a key player at Anfield.

I think the manager very like Kewell even he played not much since joined us.
Anyway, hope can see both play again please stop rotating these 2 next game.

coelacanth5

He still needs to be more calm infront of goal:onion05: