Torres' wonder strike helps Liverpool back to top
Fernando Torres scored a sensational goal
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Saturday, 11, Apr 2009 09:48
Fernando Torres scored with an amazing volley and grabbed another as Liverpool demolished Blackburn Rovers 4-0.
On an emotional day at Anfield, where the 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough tragedy was marked with a minute's silence before the game as well as other touching tributes from fans and former players, Liverpool put in a fine display to put a smile on their fans' faces.
Torres was the star man as he found the back of the net twice and the Reds added two late goals through Daniel Agger and David Ngog.
Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce made the strange decision to leave out Benni McCarthy and play centre-half Christopher Samba up-front.
There were no such surprises in the Liverpool line-up, who rested Steven Gerrard, but had Torres leading the line.
The Spaniard showed his class with a breathtaking opener as he took a lofted Jamie Carragher ball on his chest and let fly with a stunning volley, reminiscent of the wonder strike from Marco van Basten, which beat Paul Robinson and found the opposite corner of the net.
Liverpool were dominant early on and should have had a second goal when Albert Riera and Dirk Kuyt combined to setup Javier Mascherano, but the Argentinian fired straight at Robinson.
Young full-back Emiliano Insua then found Kuyt unmarked in the penalty area, but the Dutchman saw his effort brilliantly saved by Robinson.
Liverpool though did grab their second goal before half-time and once again it came through Torres. Xabi Alonso whipped in a free-kick into the Blackburn penalty area and Torres got in front of Samba and thumped his header into the net.
It continued to be one-way traffic in the second-half and it only seemed like a matter of when not if Liverpool would score again.
They were made to wait until the last ten minutes to add the finishing touches to a fine performance. First Agger found the back of the net with a bullet strike from 25 yards and then sub Ngog nodded home from close range after Lucas Leiva headed the ball across the face of goal.