Torres at the double for Reds
7th Nov 2010 - Latest News
Fernando Torres struck a sensational double as Liverpool continued their resurgence with a 2-0 victory over league leaders Chelsea on Sunday afternoon.
The Spaniard provided the type of clinical finish that has made him one of the world's finest marksmen to open the scoring on 11 minutes before sealing the points with a devastating curler on the stroke of half-time.
It takes the No. 9's tally to five goals in just three league matches against the Londoners at Anfield and means the Reds move up to ninth in the table, just five points behind third placed Arsenal.
Having gone into the encounter on the back of three straight wins, Liverpool were given a further boost ahead of kick-off by the return of Dirk Kuyt who shrugged off an ankle injury to start alongside Torres in attack.
There was certainly a buzz reverberating around L4 as the teams took to the field and the crescendo of noise provided by the Kop left the players in no doubt that the 12th man was up for the challenge of taking down the league leaders.
A typically cagey opening, complete with full-blooded challenges, ensued before the hosts put together a move that saw them get off to the perfect start on 11 minutes.
A wonderful clipped pass from Kuyt split the back peddling Ashley Cole and John Terry, allowing Torres to surge in on goal and fire the ball beyond the advancing Petr Cech.
The strike was greeted by typically fervent Anfield celebrations and gave the No.9 the lift that Hodgson and co have long been waiting for.
Within moments of opening the scoring he gave the home faithful another glimpse that the old swagger was back when he turned well in the midfield and raced towards goal before dragging a 20 yard shot past the upright.
Chelsea responded and Pepe Reina had to be alert to deny Florent Malouda's far post header after a fine run and cross from Cole. However, it would prove to be the away side's only significant attempt of the first 45 as the Reds began to take control.
The impressive Martin Kelly, who was in for the injured Glen Johnson, was offering some good width down the right and it was his floated cross that led to the next opening with Maxi volleying over after Torres had flicked the ball into his path.
The visitors were devoid of the rhythm and composure that has earned them so many plaudits of late and they could count themselves lucky to survive a penalty-shout on the half hour mark when Yury Zhirkov appeared to handle in his own area.
In terms of a first-half performance there was no doubt that this was Liverpool's best of the season and the superb Kelly gave further evidence of the home side's growing confidence, cutting in from the right and drilling a well-struck effort that was deflected to safety.
Hodgson and his backroom staff would have been more than delighted by the industry of their side and on the stroke of half-time they got the cushion their performance deserved.
Raul Meireles dispossessed Cole in the heart of the midfield before feeding Torres on the left side of the penalty area. The Spaniard jinked towards Branislav Ivanovic and cut in on his right foot, delivering a sublime curled effort that flew into the far corner leaving Cech rooted to the spot.
There was no doubt who the star of the show had been so far and given Liverpool's dominance it was perhaps no surprise to see Carlo Ancelotti introduce Didier Drogba for the start of the second period.
It inevitably saw the Blues begin to exert pressure that was conspicuous by its absence in the opening exchanges, but as the hour mark came and went, Maxi's testing low shot on 47 minutes remained the only effort of substance.
As Liverpool dropped deeper in an attempt to protect their two-goal advantage, chances did finally begin to present themselves for the Londoners, but Ramires contrived to head over after Cole's superb delivery had picked him out inside a packed penalty area.
The Reds were then grateful to Reina for a superb double stop as he first denied Zhirkov's stinging near post strike before going one better to keep out Malouda's flick from point-blank range.
The home side had now limited their attacking to the occasional foray forward but when they did they came within a whisker of making it three on 74 minutes.
Chelsea failed to deal with a right-wing corner and after Meireles's low shot found its way to Kuyt, the Dutch star was denied a goal on his return by the right boot of Cech.
Time was rapidly running out for Ancelotti's side and it became clear it was Liverpool's day on 85 minutes when Nicolas Anelka's thumping drive was pushed onto the bar by Reina. The rebound fell to Drogba just three yards out but he was somehow denied by a trademark block from Jamie Carragher.
As the game entered injury-time the hosts should have had a third but referee Howard Webb waved away Maxi's calls for a penalty after Cech appeared to bring him down.
Author: Paul Hassall at Anfield
No comments:
Post a Comment