Football Update: Rejuvenated Torres tears apart defending champions Chelsea
Amongst one of the biggest matches of the season, Liverpool were counting on their two ace players Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres to lift the gloom over the troubled Anfield club.
With Liverpool facing a daunting prospect of hosting league leaders Chelsea, things could have gone worst for the reds with Roy Hodgson hot seat in jeopardy amid calls to sack him by the Liverpool fans. But all that uncertainty and controversy which has
been surrounding the club from past three months was lifted after Torres inspired Liverpool overcame Chelsea two goals to nil.
Fernando Torres scored twice as Liverpool continued their revival with a 2-0 win over Premier League leaders Chelsea at Anfield on Sunday. The Spain international has a liking for playing the Londoners at Anfield, as his six goals in five matches against
them at home shows.
During the summer transfer window Chelsea were on their toes to snap Torres away from reds but the process never got underway when Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti publicly said that he is in no hurry to but the forward and is happy on having the likes of
Didier Drogba, Salamon Kalou and Nicolas Anelka at his disposal.
The game started briskly with a familiar and expected high pace in such big matches and it paid dividend shortly when Liverpool drew first blood in Eleven minutes. Workhorse Dutchman Dirk Kuyt ran on the flanks and provided the cross to Torres who gratefully
accepted the pass and slotted it home.
This was Spanish striker’s first game in more than a month but he looked razor sharp on the pitch leaving behind the bad patch and a goal drought which has taken shine of the former Atletico Madrid’s prolific striker. Torres who has been a thorn for Chelsea
came to back haunt them and end their fine display at the back which saw the Londoners conceding only three goals in ten games.
Liverpool were the better team in the first period with Chelsea struggling to deal with the pace of rejuvenated Torres who came back with a quick run into the box but fired his shot wide of the goal post much to the relief of Peter Cech. Though there was
an even share of possession but the story was pretty different as Chelsea’s back four looking in disarray which proved costly in the end moments of the second half, as Torres scored his second doubling the lead for Liverpool.
His second goal rolled back the years because his strike was similar to the one which was his first ever goal for Liverpool and that also came against Chelsea. Peter Cech had no chance what so ever to stop the best of clinical strike from the Spaniard. It
was by far the best half Liverpool have played courtesy of Fernando Torres who has become a living legend at Anfield.
Carlo Ancelotti would be wondering he should have given the start to Didier Drigba who was dropped to bench by the Italian manager and subsequently Chelsea ended the first half goal less and facing defeat in only forty-five minutes.
Drogba did come in the second half but failed to make any impact and it was Liverpool again who almost scored their third from Kuyt strike but only to be blocked by an outstanding save from Peter Cech. There was a scare for Liverpool at the end when Nicolas
Anelka came close to scoring only to be denied by Jose Reina.
The victory earned Liverpool precious three which has taken them in the top of the table for the first time on ninth position and this may signal turnaround of fortunes at the Liverpool club.
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