REDS LATE SHOW SEES OFF FULHAM
Fernando Torres came off the bench to inspire Liverpool to victory
as Rafa Benitez's men left it late to see off Fulham at a flood-lit
Anfield.
The Spain international broke the deadlock with a fine solo goal
nine minutes from time after it had looked like Lawrie Sanchez's
men would escape with a fortunate point.
Steven Gerrard put the seal on a 2-0 win with a well-struck penalty
four minutes later as the Reds clinched all three points and only
their second home league victory of the season.
Liverpool dominated throughout but struggled to recapture the
prowess in front of goal that saw them hit eight past Besiktas in
midweek as a combination of poor finishing and heroic goalkeeping
kept the visitors in the game.
Rafael Benitez started with the same line-up that served him so
well against the Turks and they enjoyed a bright opening with Sami
Hyypia forcing Anti Niemi into a great save with a 20-yard
strike.
And the Finnish centre back was at it again less than a minute
later but this time he failed to direct his header after Andriy
Voronin picked him out with a delightful cross from the left.
Steven Gerrard was next to try his luck but he drilled over from
20-yards after Voronin mis-kicked Alvaro Arbeloa's fine
cutback.
The visitors responded with their best effort of the half as former
Reds midfielder Danny Murphy forced Pepe Reina into action with a
dipping volley from the edge of the area.
A frustrating first-half could have ended on a high when Peter
Crouch directed a towering header goalwards on 44 minutes but he
saw his header crash back off the crossbar.
It was a similar story after the restart as Liverpool upped their
game and began to create chances at will.
Yossi Benayoun was the first to hold his head in anguish when he
somehow fired over from five yards after Niemi had spilled Fabio
Aurelio's free-kick, before the keeper redeemed himself on 57
minutes with a smart save to deny Voronin.
The Ukrainian then missed his kick when well positioned after great
work by Gerrard and he was left frustrated again moments later as
he dragged his effort wide of the far post following a neat
interchange with Benayoun.
It was one-way traffic and the Israeli was next to test the Fulham
stopper with a brilliant curling effort as Liverpool turned the
screw.
It looked like it was going to be one of those days until
substitute Fernando Torres produced a moment of magic that caused
Anfield to erupt.
The Spaniard, who replaced Andriy Voronin on 71 minutes, took down
Reina's long clearance and cut inside Aaron Hughes before firing in
at the near post.
And it was all over four minutes later when Steven Gerrard
converted from the spot after Peter Crouch was tripped by Carlos
Bocanegra.
didn't catch the match, is it the lack of finish again and
that's why they score only 2 despite having 66% possession?