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The second-half strike from the Spanish striker has helped Liverpool secure a narrow win over Manchester City at Anfield. Both the teams had their chances, but Liverpool clearly dominated the second half and are the deserved winners.
Liverpool1 -0 Man City
Fernando Torres[58']
Man of The Match: Torres
Venue: Anfield [43,074]
Referee: M Halsey
The Liverpool boss started the match with an attacking line-up which included Babel, Gerrard, Kuyt and Torres, and Lucas Leiva - Mascherano duo controlling the midfield. Emiliano Insua, the Argentine youngster had his home debut along with veterans Hyypia, Carragher and Finnan at the back. Eriksson preffered his one man upfront, Benjani with Vassell, Johnson, Ireland, Petrov and Elano in mid-field. Dunne was to control the defence with the experienced veteran Corluka , Ball and Sun Jihai being the fullbacks.
The match had a rather slow start with not much attacking moves except from the runs and turns Babel made. Darius Vassell looked sharp and tried to take advantage of the inexperience left back. Insua played well and did not make any mistakes, Mascherano helping him at times to get the ball back. The over-all possession was equal mathematically, however the fact remains both teams losing possession cheaply and midway.
Gerrard Shot
Liverpool's best chance of the first half fell to captain Gerrard. He curled the shot into the far right corner of the goal and Joe Hart rised to the occassion and produced a wonderful save to stop Stevie G's effort. Hart showed great reflex and proved why he is touted as the next England number one. Babel had a chance, Kuyt's cross met his head and flew over the bar. Man City did not enjoy any good chances in the first half though Benjani and Vasell looked threatening.
Rafael Benitez urged his men to go forward in the second half and Liverpool showed more cohesion and understanding in passing the ball, attacking with direct build-up. Torres had a shot gone wide, although a tough chance, thanks to a wonderful high ball cross from Gerrard. Richard Dunne looked like he had Torres under his close watch, though the Spaniard's quick feet and brilliant turn always looked threatening.
Elano free-kick
Manchester City had their chances and had Elano's freekick carried a bit of luck with it, matters could have been worse for Liverpool. The Brazilian drived the ball to Pepe Reina's left hand top corner, it brushed the woodwork before going out for a goal-kick.
Brilliant El Nino
Torres needed one goal to equal Van Nistelrooys record of being a foreigner to score the most league goals in his first season in English Football. El Nino send a couple of shots wide, but the Reds did not wait to long as it was sure that he would put one in soon. Torres did not disappoint his fans and netted the only goal of the match finding gap in between the closing down Dunne and the diving Hart. It was a composed finished and he ran to the Kop to celebrate his goal, his eighth consecutive goal in Anfield.
Brave Hart
Kuyt looked sharp when his fierce drive needed the very best from Hart to stop it, and he jumped onto Lucas's overhead kick in the rebound. Hart was clearly the man-of-the match for the Manchester lads, though he couldn't do anything when Kuyt's header crashed back off his crossbar. Though not a good result for Sven Goran Eriksson, he can be happy about Hart's performance and look forward to the remaining matches, the brilliance of the keeper had been the difference in the match. Hart showed a lot of bravery, reflex and courage.
The match, in the end settled by the Torres strike, the Reds signing off the season from Anfield where they have lost only once.
Line-ups
Liverpool: Reina, Insua, Hyypia, Carragher, Finnan, Babel[Benayoun-68'], Mascherano, Leiva[Alonso-74'], Kuyt, Gerrard [Voronin-78'], Torres.
Man City: Hart, Ball, Dunne, Corluka, Jihai, Petrov[Castillo-67'], Ireland, Johnson, Elano[Hamann-67'], Vassell[Garrido-82'], Benjani
Written by Abhilash Manapatt
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