EPL Post Match Report: Liverpool 3 VS Middlesbrough 2

Torres' hat-trick carries Liverpool to fourth By Duncan White at Anfield
Last Updated: 1:43am GMT 24/02/2008, direct source from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2008/02/24/sfgliv124.xml

Liverpool 3 VS 2 Middlesborough

There is no doubt the individual magnificence of Fernando Torres is indispensable to this Liverpool team. Imperiously converting his first Premier League hat-trick, he has hit 21 goals this season and in so doing carried his team-mates back into fourth place, keeping the Anfield crowd on a high after the midweek heroics against Internazionale. It was harsh on the visitors, but the winds of El Nino simply swept brave Boro away.

Torres, a club record signing this summer at £26.5 million, has exceeded all expectations in his virgin season and has thoroughly vindicated Benitez's decision to buy the 23-year-old Spanish international.

"In terms of adaptation it is not easy for a player coming here from European football," Benitez said. "But we knew that he had power and pace and that pace can sometimes kill defenders in England. We were monitoring two or three other options, but we decided on Torres because he is young and hungry and he has the condition to play well in the Premier League. It is difficult to score 20 goals in any year, but it is especially hard in your first year at a club."

Benitez the rotator has often decided to rest his top scorer, much to the frustration of the Liverpool supporters, and he refused to guarantee that he would not do so again. "If we had one game a week it would be easy for me," Benitez said. "But it is not easy for a player to play three or four games in eight days. We need to see how the players are."

Without Torres, Liverpool would likely have lost this game.

Middlesbrough came into the match unbeaten in eight games and eased into an early lead against a somnolent Liverpool. Stewart Downing curled in an in-swinging free-kick from the right and, in attempting to play the Boro attack offside, Sami Hyypia and Steve Finnan moved up too slowly and Tuncay Sanli had a simple job to head in from close range. The organisational qualities of the suspended Jamie Carragher were badly missed.

"We knew that after a Champions League week it can be a bit flat for teams the following weekend," said Gareth Southgate. "We knew if we started well we could cause them some problems. We were very disciplined in the way we played until a mad two minutes turned the game on its head."

In those 120 seconds Torres turned Liverpool's deficit into a lead. First he scampered onto Julio Arca's undercooked back-header to take the ball around Mark Schwarzer and score. With the adrenaline still pumping, he received the ball from Fabio Aurelio some 25 yards from goal and disdainfully thumped the ball inside the near post for the pick of his three goals.

The lively Tuncay seemed to equalise 10 minutes before the break as he bundled in Downing's excellent cross from the left touchline, but he had clearly used the top of his arm and was rightly booked. Just before the half-time whistle the Turkish forward weaved down the left and teed up Gary O'Neil, who shanked his shot when well positioned.


It was another Boro error that gifted Torres his third. Dirk Kuyt, Liverpool's Sisyphean striker, makes everything look difficult these days, so there seemed little hope when he punted what is euphemistically termed a 'percentage ball' in the vague direction of Torres. David Wheater hesitated under the ball while Schwarzer came sprinting out of his area, with the upshot that neither dealt with the problem and Torres steered the ball into the empty net. Minutes later Torres was only denied a fourth by a fine reaction save from the Australian goalkeeper.

Boro were far from done, though. Arca found Downing cutting in from the left flank and the England winger's outstanding first touch left Finnan stranded, allowing him to poke the ball between the legs of the advancing Jose Reina. Yet just as Boro's late rally was gathering momentum, Jeremie Aliadiere reacted to Javier Mascherano's impish nose-tweak with a slap and was shown a straight red card, despite having already been booked.

Benitez allowed Torres to milk a standing ovation by replacing him with Peter Crouch for the final moments. By then his sole remaining challenge was convincing the officials to part with the match ball so he could carry it off clutched to his chest, like a proud schoolboy.

Man of the matchFernando Torres (Liverpool) • Four shots, three goals• 67 per cent passing accuracy

Best Moment:
Having scored seconds earlier, Fernando Torres picked up the ball 25 yards from goal and in a blink it was in the bottom corner.

Worst moment:
Jeremie Aliadiere was impressive but as Middlesbrough pressed for a late equaliser he lost his composure when provoked by Javier Mascherano’s impish nose-tweak and slapped the Argentine’s face.

Goals: Tuncay (9) 0-1; Torres (28) 1-1; Torres (29) 2-1; Torres (61) 3-1; Downing (83) 3-2.

Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Reina; Finnan, Arbeloa, Hyypia, Aurelio; Mascherano, Lucas; Kuyt (Riise, 73), Gerrard, Babel (Benayoun, 62); Torres (Crouch, 89). Substitutes not used: Martin (gk), Skrtel.

Middlesbrough (4-4-2): Schwarzer; Young, Wheater, Pogatetz, Grounds; O'Neil (Mido, 59), Rochemback, Arca, Downing; Aliadière, Tuncay (Alves, 69). Substitutes not used: Turnbull (gk), Boateng, Hines.

Referee: L Mason (Lancashire).

Booked: Liverpool Reina, Finnan; Middlesbrough Aliadière, Tuncay, Wheater. Rochemback, Young.

Sent off: Aliadière (85).

Man of the match: Torres.

Attendance: 43,612.




Liverpool vs Middlesbrough Full Match Highlights 23/02/2008