Torres on the mark again as Reds take derby spoils
Rafael Benitez have a crucial week ahead starting with Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final away to Arsenal
Sunday, 30, Mar 2008 06:04
Fernando Torres scored his 28th goal of the season as Liverpool beat rivals Everton 1-0 at Anfield.
The Spaniard netted after six minutes of the Merseyside Derby, to put the Reds five points ahead of the Toffees in the battle for the last Champions League spot.
Liverpool made three changes with Lucas, John Arne Riise and Sami Hyypia starting, while Tony Hibbert, Stephen Pienaar, and Joseph Yobo returned for the Toffees.
The Reds made the perfect start by taking the lead on six minutes with their first chance, when Dirk Kuyt fed the ball to Torres who dinked the ball over the onrushing Tim Howard from 12 yards.
Kuyt and Torres continued to reap havoc with an exchange of passes leading to the Dutchman's bouncing effort going inches wide on 16 minutes.
Rafael Benitez's side continued to dominate and Ryan Babel was guilty of missing a gilt-edged chance when the Dutchman missing a side-footed attempt from four yards following Riise's cross.
Lee Carsley then headed the ball on the goal line under pressure from Lucas, while Steven Gerrard smashed the post with a trademark long-range volley on 40 minutes.
David Moyes' side failed to create a single clear-cut chance with Yakubu failing to cause the Reds' defence any problems.
The second half in comparison was a dreary affair with the home side seemingly happy with hanging onto their lead.
Everton felt they should have had a penalty when Yakubu was brought down by Hyypia but replays showed the Nigerian striker fell over too easily.
Moyes brought on Manuel Fernandes in the second half and Leighton Baines replaced skipper Phil Neville, who stormed off and refused to shake his manager's hand.
Everton were reduced to ambitious long-range shots for the remainder of the game with Gerrard blocking a 25-yard effort from Fernandes.
The Reds skipper fired a venomous effort in the last minute from distance that was tipped over by Howard, as Benitez's side held on for a crucial victory.