Liverpool title hopes remain with stunning 3-2 win
Liverpool's title challenge still on after late Torres header seals 3-2 win
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Saturday, 07, Feb 2009 10:25
Liverpool's title challenge is still on after a late Fernando Torres header saw the Reds claim an unlikely 3-2 win away at Portsmouth to go top.
Rafael Benitez had chosen a bold starting XI, with Torres, Xabi Alonso, Dirk Kuyt and Albert Riera all starting on the bench following the midweek FA Cup defeat to Everton.
Though Fabio Aurelio freekick put Liverpool on level terms after David Nugent had taken the lead for the home side, the Fratton Park faithful were rewarded with a Herman Hreidarsson header to win the game on 78 minutes.
But Kuyt grabbed an undeserved draw for the visitors with six minutes remaining after lashing home a Torres cross and the Spanish striker claimed the three points with a last-gasp header at the near post from a Yossi Benayoun cross.
The away win leaves Liverpool a point ahead of United at the top of the table, but Sir Alex Ferguson's men have two games in hand.
Liverpool came close to taking the lead after 12 minutes when a fierce Aurelio freekick beat Portsmouth keeper David James only to strike the outside of the upright.
Pressure from the Anfield side continued through the first half, with Benitez's men gelling well in their unusual formation, though lone frontman David Ngog was often left without a killer final ball.
But as half-time loomed, the visitors lost their rhythm with Pompey getting to grips with Liverpool's changing approach.
After a quiet start to the second half, Ryan Babel wasted Liverpool's best chance of the game, failing to make contact with a low cross in front of a wide-open net after Kuyt had been set through by Yossi Benayoun.
And Liverpool's wastefulness proved fatal minutes later as Nugent gave the south coast side the lead, who slotted past Pepe Reina after being put through by Peter Crouch.
But minutes after seeing their title hopes seem to crumble, Liverpool got back in the game after a terrible error from Anfield old boy Crouch, whose under-hit back pass forced James to give away an indirect freekick by handling.
Aurelio smashed home the free kick with a venomous strike from 12 yards to grab a vital equaliser for the Reds.
But after a swinging Nadir Belhadj free kick, Hreidarsson dashed Liverpool hopes to plant a diving header past Reina in the Liverpool net with just 12 minutes remaining.
Liverpool had the last word, however, as Kuyt clumsily swept home Torres' cross before the former Atletico Madrid frontman claimed a crucial away win with his late near-post header.