 "Photo: Tim Hales/The Associated Press")
In a flash of brilliance, Fernando Torres might have just saved his manager’s job and, more importantly, his team’s season.
The talismanic striker showed his speed, power and deft finishing touch when he scored to put Liverpool ahead 1-0 over Manchester United. The Reds ended up winning 2-0, yet the Spaniard’s superb goal allowed manager Rafael Benitez his first sigh of relief in what probably seemed like an eternity.
In the 65th minute, Liverpool midfielder Yossi Benayoun put a great ball through to Torres who first fought off Rio Ferdinand in the box and then finished with aplomb over United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar into the roof of the goal.
On the play, Ferdinand, whose recent decline has been well documented by United fans, committed a horrendous mistake when he inexplicably kept Torres onside.
Manchester United came close to equalizing in the last 10 minutes of the match, but Antonio Valencia’s shot crashed off the top of the crossbar. Throughout the match, United found few opportunities to test the sometimes shaky Liverpool keeper, Pepe Reina.
In the final minute of stoppage time, David Ngog, who came on as a substitute for Torres in the 80th minute, clinically finished past Van der Sar for the Red’s second goal. It was an easy finish for Ngog since he was left one-on-one with the goalkeeper after all United’s defenders had pushed forward.
Liverpool had suffered four consecutive defeats before Sunday’s match — two in Champions League play and two in the Premiership — but the win over a first-place United squad was a sign that the Red’s are not ready to relinquish their title hopes just yet. More impressively, Liverpool took all three points without injured captain Steven Gerrard.
In other Premiere League matches, Chelsea smashed home five goals, one of which was a highlight reel 35-yard blast from Michael Essien, against Blackburn to take the Blues back to the top of the table.
Arsenal gave up a two-goal lead in the second half to draw with West Ham 2-2, while Tottenham suffered a shocking 1-0 home-defeat to Stoke. Manchester City, after a hot start to the season, has seen a recent decline in their form as they drew at home with Fulham, 2-2.
In La Liga, Real Madrid’s struggles without star winger Cristiano Ronaldo continued when they had a goalless draw with Sporting Gijon. Earlier in the week, Madrid lost in Champions League play to struggling AC Milan, 2-3.
It was an interesting week in the Champions League for Barcelona, as well. The Catalan side endured a mind-boggling 1-2 loss midweek to Russian unknowns Rubin Kazan.
Barca, however, got back on track with a 6-1 thrashing of Real Zaragoza to put them three points clear of Real Madrid atop the table.
Be the first to comment on this article!