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| Liverpool 1 - 0 Manchester City | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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TORRES
STRIKE SEALS CITY WIN Fernando Torres' second half goal, his 32nd of the season, has given Liverpool a 1-0 victory over Manchester City in the last game at Anfield this season. Torres' strike was enough to settle this game and it puts him level with Ruud van Nistelrooy as the foreigner to score the most league goals in his first season in English football. It also extends his own record of scoring in eight consecutive home games. El Nino has exhausted all of the superlatives in his super first season and he again sent the Anfield faithful home happy when he applied the decisive touch to this game in the 58th minute. Rafa Benitez said on Friday that he wanted his side to sign off from Anfield with a good performance and a victory and he named a strong side that included the four pronged attack of Kuyt, Babel, Gerrard and Torres that has served him so well this season. There was though a debut at left back for the young Argentinian Emiliano Insua. With the Reds already safe in fourth place and Manchester City comfortable in mid-table a lot of observers might have expected a tepid end of season stroll today, but there was still plenty at stake. A goal for Fernando Torres would see him equal Ruud van Nistelrooy's record of being the foreign player to score the most league goals in his first season in English football, and a clean sheet for Pepe Reina would see edge him closer to a third successive Golden Glove. When we got under way it seemed like those observers might have got it spot on. On possession and chances, the first half belonged to Liverpool. But as a spectacle, the first 45 minutes belonged to the chapter that details Anfield's less memorable matches. City, playing on the break, offered little to suggest Reina would be deprived his now accustomed accolade, and though Liverpool did look dangerous at times, Fernando Torres was starved of opportunities to reach his target. Liverpool's best chance of the first half fell to Steven Gerrard. Man City keeper Joe Hart has been touted as a potential England number one this season, and he showed why when he dived full length to finger tip Gerrard's curling shot wide and stop a certain goal. Gerrard was at the centre of most of Liverpool's good play in the first half and another who looked dangerous was the recalled Ryan Babel. He had the second best chance of the half, heading over Kuyt's cross at the end of a good Reds move. Rafa's men kicked off the second half attacking their favoured Kop End and we'd had just a few minutes when Fernando Torres almost put another seal on the love affair he enjoys with those that stand on the world famous terrace. Torres has always been quick to applaud the role his Captain has played in his goal laden season and it was another brilliant Gerrard ball that set him on his way, the only difference this time was that El Nino scuffed his shot wide. A Torres miss has become something of a collector's item this season, and we didn't have to wait long to see him hit the net again and give Liverpool the lead. The Reds had come out for the second half with a real purpose and they got the opener they deserved when Kuyt's header found Torres and he beat Dunne before sliding the ball beyond Hart and into the far corner. Dunne had enjoyed a good afternoon against Torres at Eastlands in December, but he couldn't get near him today. Torres equalling that record of Van Nistelrooy and extending his own record of scoring in consecutive home games, this goal makes it eight. Torres strike was just what the game needed and just what Liverpool had needed. The shackles were off and, but for Hart, the Reds would have put the game beyond City before we'd played an hour. Hart had to be at his very best to stop Kuyt's fierce drive in the 60th minute and he was there again to prevent Lucas from converting the rebound with an overhead kick. Liverpool were rampant and Hart was powerless when Kuyt's header crashed back off his crossbar in the 65th minute and again when great work from Torres created a chance for Babel, which he blazed over. In the end they would have to settle for just Torres' strike, but it ensured that they would sign off from a successful season at Anfield, where they've lost just once, with a win. Teams Liverpool: Reina, Insua, Hyypia, Carragher, Finnan, Babel, Mascherano, Leiva, Kuyt, Gerrard (captain), Torres. Subs - Alonso, Itandje, Skrtel, Voronin, Benayoun. Manchester City: Hart, Ball, Dunne, Corluka, Jihai, Petrov, Ireland, Johnson, Blumer, Vassell, . Subs - Isaksson, Castillo, Garrido, Fernandes, Hamann. Referee: M Halsey Conditions: Dry Attendance: 43,074 Liverpoolfc.tv Man-of-the-Match: Fernando Torres Breakdown 15:01 GMT : Match Starts 1 min : Manchester City kick off attacking the Kop end 4 mins : It's been a low key start from both teams at Anfield with Liverpool enjoying the majority of the possession without really creating a chance of note 5 mins : Ryan Babel is down receiving treatment after a late tackle from Sun Jihai 6 mins : The match restarts and Babel is back in the action 8 mins : Good to see Insua back in the first-team after a magnificent season in the reserves...He's one for the future 9 mins : Benjani looks to get in behind Carra and Sami but Reina is alert enough to race out of his area and head the ball to safety 14 mins : The City fans are in buoyant mood and showing their support for Sven 15 mins : Not much to report on the field so far... 16 mins : Almost a chance for Babel but the Dutchman's touch is heavy and he cannot get his shot away 20 mins : First real chance. A flowing move sends Kuyt clear down the right hand side of the City area but his superb, driven cross is headed wide by Babel at the near post 23 mins : Torres has his first real sight of goal but drags his effort from the right side of the area wide of Hart's far post 28 mins : Stevie G picks up a pass from Torres and wastes no time in unleashing a 25-yard drive that fizzes inches past Hart's right-hand post 31 mins : A rare moment of action in the LFC penalty area as Petrov hits the post with a first time strike - but the offside flag thwarts their efforts to net the rebound 32 mins : Best moment of the match thus far as Gerrard curls a delightful effort at goal that Hart somehow gets a fingertip to and tip it wide of the post 37 mins : Babel skips beyond his marker to send in a devilish cross from the left but Kuyt cannot connect and the chance goes begging 41 mins : Rafa looks frustrated on the touchline - it's been that kind of half 43 mins : The Gerrard-Torres combination nearly offers us respite from the lacklustre proceedings, but a last-ditch City tackle prevents El Nino a clear run on goal 45 mins : There will be a minimum of one minute added time 15:48 GMT : Half Time Reached 16:04 GMT : Second Half Begins 46 mins : Liverpool restart the game attacking the Kop end 46 mins : Almost a perfect start for the Reds but the ball is stolen off the toe of Gerrard after it looked like the skipper was in, in the six yard box 48 mins : Gerrard sends El Nino away but just as it looks certain we would be celebrating goal number 32, the Spaniard drags his shot wide of the far post 49 mins : There already appears to be more urgency about LFC's play 50 mins : Finnan trips Petrov 25 yards from Reina's goal - chance for City 51 mins : Elano curls it brilliantly but it clips the post and Liverpool survive 53 mins : Babel finds space inside the area but his cut back is poor and City clear 56 mins : Sensational play by Masch down the right as he glides past two before losing his composure and drilling a cross-cum shot wide of the far post 58 mins : GOAL! Fernando Torres: 59 mins : He's been relatively quiet all afternoon but that's what El Nino's all about 60 mins : Hamann starts to warm up in front of the Kop - the cheer is almost as big as for Fernando's goal 61 mins : Somehow it is not 2-0. Lucas's acrobatic effort from seven yards out hits Hart and stays out 63 mins : El Nino has now netted in eight consecutive league matches at Anfield and has also equalled Ruud Van Nistelrooy's record of being the foreign player to score the most league goals (23) in is first season in English football. What a player! 65 mins : City are holding on here. Hyypia's cross from the right is met by Kuyt who can only watch on in frustration as his header crashes off the bar 66 mins : The attendance today is 43074 67 mins : Torres works wonders down the left but his cut back is hammered over by Babel from seven yards 67 mins : Substitution: Dietmar Hamann for Elano Blumer: A legend enters the proceedings 67 mins : Substitution: Nery Castillo for Martin Petrov: 68 mins : Substitution: Yossi Benayoun for Ryan Babel: 70 mins : Great to see Didi back at Anfield 71 mins : A chance for Hamann but the Kaiser's long range effort seriously lacks power 74 mins : Substitution: Xabi Alonso for Lucas Leiva: 78 mins : It's all Liverpool but so far the second goal eludes Rafael Benitez and his team 78 mins : Substitution: Andriy Voronin for Steven Gerrard: 82 mins : Benjani tests Reina with a fierce 30 yard free-kick 82 mins : Substitution: Javi Garrido for Darius Vassell: 84 mins : Voronin sends Torres scampering clear but his cheeky chip is easy for Hart 85 mins : Hart is called into action again as this time Mascherano fires a 25yard drive goalwards 86 mins : Carra bursts forward and unleashes a 35 yard drive that is brilliantly blocked by a City defender - nearly the perfect end to the day 90 mins : There will be a minimum of three minutes added time 90 mins : Great chance for City but Castillo's 18-yard strike is poor 16:52 GMT : Match Over © Copyright of Official Site Liverpool FC |
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