Torres swivels and stuns

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE Liverpool 3 Sunderland 0:IT IS no surprise Liverpool rely on inspiration from Fernando Torres to salvage their season but that does not lessen his capacity to astonish.

His two sublime goals capped a statement of intent from Rafael Benitez’s team, and a performance so emphatic the Kop could mock the moment that threatened to encapsulate a turbulent campaign. “He’s got a head like a beachball,” they sang of Steve Bruce. The poor Sunderland manager had to laugh. The only alternative was tears.

This season has shown the folly of making predictions about Liverpool but here, with a commitment to attack from the off, was a warning Tottenham cannot ignore in the pursuit of the final Champions League qualifying berth.

“We know it will be difficult but we have to keep going,” said Benitez. “You can see the players have confidence and if we keep to this level we will win a lot more games for sure.”

Especially with Torres in this form. On the eve of this game, Liverpool’s record signing had repeated his desire to stay, with the caveat that more quality players must be bought. This was his reminder to the Anfield hierarchy of what money can buy. Liverpool and Torres have been smarting since Howard Webb pointed to the penalty spot at Old Trafford last Sunday, and Sunderland’s decision to invite aggrieved opponents to attack the Kop from the opening whistle amounted to a free punch to their solar plexus.

What followed was a 45-minute display of outstanding quality, arguably the best at Anfield this season, as the pace of Liverpool’s passing, their movement, strength, workrate and individual excellence destroyed a Sunderland side unbeaten in their five previous outings. Many visiting players looked exhausted as they traipsed off at the interval, such was the draining effect of seeking shadows.

Benitez’s team created nine clear goalscoring opportunities in the first half alone but their wastefulness hardly registered as Anfield drooled over the brilliance of Torres’s opener. Daniel Agger had already announced a demanding afternoon for Craig Gordon with an athletic volley when, in the third minute, Torres took off in pursuit of Jose Reina’s clearance deep into visiting territory. Collecting the ball on the touchline, Torres swivelled, stepped inside Michael Turner and made 43,000 mouths drop with a shot from the angle of the area that sailed over Gordon and curled at the final moment into the top corner.

It was a moment of genius that drew gasps as soon as the ball left his right boot and had the stadium purring for minutes afterwards. “It was a wonder goal from a class act,” said Bruce. “The injuries he’s had this season have left him looking as fresh as a daisy. How do you stop him? I don’t know.”

Torres and an exuberant Steven Gerrard delivered performances to match their reputations. Of equal note were the contributions from Dirk Kuyt and Maxi Rodriguez, giving his finest display since his January transfer from Atletico Madrid, while even the maligned Emiliano Insua and Ryan Babel visibly grew in confidence as Sunderland were routed.

Liverpool seemed intent on preserving the importance as well as the majesty of Torres’s first goal through an initial refusal to improve their advantage, with several efforts going close.

Their leniency was bordering on the ridiculous by the time Glen Johnson doubled their lead. Gerrard’s corner was headed into the wrong area by Darren Bent and the England full-back, without a goal since August, stepped inside Steed Malbranque to score with the aid of a deflection off Turner.

Johnson pierced the defence again on the hour as two feints brought Liverpool a third. The defender made to shoot on the edge of the area only to play the simple ball to Torres on the penalty spot instead. The unmarked striker shaped for a thunderous finish, but elected for a nonchalant lift over the advancing the Gordon and into the empty net. A touch of class in keeping with Liverpool’s entire performance.

Bruce said: “Sometimes you just have to hold your hands up and say you were beaten by a much better team. As for the Scouse humour, I’ll take it as a compliment. I’ve had some good times here in the past but I will take my medicine this time and try to come back – with a smaller head.”

Guardian Service