Saturday 23 February 2008 15:00 FA Barclays Premier League
"Liverpool"	3 - 2	"Middlesbrough"
	(2-1)
GOAL
Torres 28, 29, 61		Tuncay 9, Downing 83
Team: 25. Jose Reina, 12. Fabio Aurelio, 3. Steve Finnan, 4. Sami Hyypia, 17. Alvaro Arbeloa, 20. Javier Mascherano, 8. Steven Gerrard (c),19. Ryan Babel, 21. Lucas Pezzini Leiva, 18. Dirk Kuyt, 9. Fernando Torres. Subs: 40. David Martin, 37. Martin Skrtel, 6. John Arne Riise, 11. Yossi Benayoun, 15. Peter Crouch.		Team: 1. Mark Schwarzer, 2. Luke Young, 6. Emanuel Pogatetz, 31. David Wheater, 40. Jonothon Grounds, 19. Stuart Downing, 3. Julio Arca (c), 10. Fabio Rochemback, 4. Gary O'Neil, 11. Jeremie Aliadiere, 17. Tuncay Sanli. Subs: 21. Ross Turnbull, 38. Seb Hines, 7. George Boateng, 12. Afonso Alves, 9. Hossam Mido.
SUBSTITUTIONS
Babel (Benayoun 62), Kuyt (Riise 73), Torres (Crouch 90)		O'Neil (Mido 59), Tuncay (Alves 69)
OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS
Referee: Lee Mason Linesman: S Beck, W McDonough 4th Official: M Clattenburg
Booked: Reina 53, Finnan 79		Booked: Aliadiere 34, Tuncay 35, Wheater 53, Rochemback 63, Young 90 Sent Off: Aliadiere 85
VENUE		MANAGERS
Anfield (capacity: 45,362) Attendance: 43,612		Rafael Benitez (Liverpool) Gareth Southgate (M)

  Price: J3,00

  TERRIFIC TORRES BURIES BORO

  Liverpool have gone fourth in the Premier League after a superb hat-trick from Fernando Torres gave them a 3-2 victory over Middlesbrough at Anfield on Saturday.

  The Reds had trailed to a ninth minute Boro goal for Tuncay Sanli, but Torres turned it around with two goals before the break, and he completed his second Liverpool hat-trick with a third midway through the second half. And although Downing made it 3-2 late on, the Reds held on for the points.

  Torres has now scored 21 goals, a wonderful achievement in his first season in English football, and today's treble leaves him hot on the heels of Adebayor and Ronaldo in the race to be the Premier League's top marksman.

  Rafa Benitez made just one change from the side that beat Inter Milan here on Tuesday, and that was forced upon him by the suspension of Jamie Carragher after he picked a fifth yellow card against Barnsley. Carragher's place was taken by Alvaro Arbeloa, who started for the first time since the 2-2 draw with Aston Villa in January.

  Liverpool knew a win today would take them above Everton into fourth place, at least until their trip to Manchester City on Monday, and they set about their task in positive fashion when a 4th minute Gerrard corner caused confusion in the Boro box and then a shot from the same man flew wide of Schwarzer's left hand post.

  But Middlesbrough came to Anfield with no shortage of confidence after an eight game unbeaten run and they rocked the Reds on nine minutes when Tuncay Sanli gave them the lead.

  It came after a handball from Babel gave the visitors a free kick deep inside Liverpool territory, and Tuncay found himself all alone six yards out to head home Downing's in-swinging cross. The Reds rearguard had all pushed out looking to play Boro offside, but there was no flag and Tuncay celebrated as they protested.

  They say goals change games and Tuncay's strike had certainly changed the picture. The Reds were reeling from their knock back and passes were going astray as Middlesbrough continued to look dangerous on the counter.

  Rafa's men needed a lift and they got one from an unexpected source in the 28th minute. There looked nothing on as the ball bounced in front of the Boro back four, but Julio Arca lost his bearings and headed the ball over his defensive line, where Fernando Torres was waiting, and he equalised after speeding clear and rounding Schwarzer.

  Parity was restored, but it didn't last long. The Reds' fans will hardly have had time to sit back down from celebrating El Nino's first strike when he scored again to give Liverpool the lead, and it was some goal. Torres has already treated us to some special moments in his first season here and this was another goal to saviour, the Spaniard beating Schwarzer with a superb shot from 25 yards.

  The game had been turned on its head, but Middlesbrough were still a threat and they thought they'd equalised when another Downing cross was turned home by Tuncay, but the referee had spotted he'd done so with his arm and gave the Reds a free kick.

      Liverpool Fernando Torres scores the equalizer (r)  (Photo: Empics)

      Liverpool's Dutch forward Dirk Kuyt (L) shields the ball  (Photo: AFP)

  Liverpool began the second half in front, but the pattern of play suggested they'd have their work cut out to end it that way. Middlesbrough were making life difficult for them, and Downing in particular looked like he could ruin their day. Rafa has often lamented about his side's failure to kill off their opponents and it was clear that they'd need another goal here.

  The game was on knife edge, but Torres settled everyone's nerves when he completed his hat-trick and made the game safe in the 61st minute. Torres has looked razor sharp since he returned from injury against Inter on Tuesday and he cut Boro down for a third time when he beat Wheater to the ball before placing it past Schwarzer and into the Kop net.

  A nervous finish should have been avoided, but an 83rd minute goal from Downing again reduced the deficit one goal and it looked like finger nails would again be needed.

  The 85th minute sending off of Boro forward Jeremie Aliadiere for raising his hands to Mascherano helped settle some nerves, and the Reds closed the game out to record a priceless three points in the race for a Champions League place.

  Teams

  Liverpool: Reina, Aurelio, Hyypia, Arbeloa, Finnan, Babel, Mascherano, Leiva, Gerrard (captain), Torres, Kuyt. Subs - Riise, Crouch, Martin, Skrtel, Benayoun.

  Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Young, Pogatetz, Wheater, Grounds, Downing, Arca (captain), Rochemback, O'Neil, Aliadiere, Sanli. Subs - Boateng, Alves, Hines, , Turnbull.

  Referee: L Mason

  Conditions: Dry

  Attendance: 43,612

  Liverpoolfc.tv Man-of-the-Match: Fernando Torres

  Breakdown

15:01 GMT : Match Starts
1 min : Middlesbrough kick off attacking the Kop end
2 mins : First attack of the match and Gerrard's centre from the left is well cleared at the near post by Wheater
3 mins : Just the one enforced change for the Reds today, with Arbeloa in for the suspended Carra - so far we line up with the same system that reaped the rewards against Inter
4 mins : Liverpool earn their first corner of the match after a neat move involving Kuyt and Gerrard
5 mins : 'Boro struggle to clear but no-one is on hand to follow up after Scwarzer misjudges the flight of the ball
6 mins : A raking pass from left to right from Aurelio sees the ball eventually worked to Gerrard who sees his long range strike fly well wide
8 mins : 'Boro come into the match on the back of an eight match unbeaten run in all competitions, so they will be no pushovers
9 mins : Handball from Babel gifts Boro a free-kick to the right of the Reds' penalty area
9 mins : GOAL! Tuncay Sanli: Downing's free-kick exposes the Reds' offside trap and Tuncay heads home
11 mins : It's a goal out of nothing for the visitors and a sloppy piece of play by Liverpool.
13 mins : The crowd were in good spirits ahead of the match but at the moment there is a stunned silence at Anfield
14 mins : Kuyt's searching cross is too long for Torres and Babel, who arrived late at the far post
16 mins : Taunting chants from the travelling 'Boro fans - 'Are you Barnsley in disguise?' Let's hope it comes back to haunt them!
17 mins : Aliadiere breaks clear of Hyypia but some alert defending from the returning Arbeloa prevents the former Arsenal man making it 2-0
18 mins : From one end to the other, as Babel's low ball across the face of goal is met by Kuyt, who flashes a shot over at the near post
20 mins : Finnan's hopeful cross into the box is way beyond Babel and goes out for a goal kick. A frustrating start for Liverpool
23 mins : A flowing move ends with Mascherano drilling a long range effort wide of Schwarzer's right-hand post. He's still looking for that first goal in a Red shirt
25 mins : Dirk Kuyt goes down under the challenge of Rochemback but the ref is having none of it!
27 mins : Last season Stevie G came up with the inspiration to see off 'Boro and it looks like we could use some of that magic today
28 mins : GOAL! Fernando Torres: A mistake by Arca lets Torres in and El Nino does the rest by rounding the keeper and firing in his 19th of the season
30 mins : GOAL! Fernando Torres: The Spaniard turns the game on its head with a 25 yard belter
33 mins : Phew! It's all change and it's all thanks to Torres!
34 mins : First Booking: Jeremie Aliadiere:
35 mins : First Booking: Tuncay Sanli: The Turk is deservedly booked for using his arm to deflect the ball beyond Reina. The goal does not stand
38 mins : Aliadiere races through to fire past Reina but an offside in the build-up means the goal, once again, does not stand
42 mins : Matches between these two sides have often been dour affairs in recent years but it hasn't been the case so far today - lot's of incident and goalmouth action to enjoy
43 mins : It's all Liverpool in the dying embers of the half
45 mins : There will be a minimum of two minutes added time
15:48 GMT : Half Time Reached
16:04 GMT : Second Half Begins
46 mins : Liverpool restart the match attacking the Kop end
47 mins : 'Boro have begun the second period well. This is by no means over yet
49 mins : An up and under sees Wheater challenge Reina, but the Spanish stopper gets there first and gathers well at the second attempt
50 mins : The hosts respond with a lightning quick counter attack but Ryan Babel opts to go alone and sees his right-footed shot deflect away to safety.
52 mins : Finnan does well under pressure to earn Liverpool a corner but it comes to nothing
53 mins : Downing looks dangerous down the left for the away side and earns a corner in front of the travelling fans
53 mins : First Booking: David Wheater:
53 mins : First Booking: Pepe Reina:
54 mins : A scuffle following the corner results in two bookings after Reina took objection to a late challenge from the 'Boro defender
58 mins : It would be fair to say it has been a scrappy opening to the second period. Lots of stoppages and a lack of quality in possession of the ball from both sides
59 mins : Substitution: Mido for Gary O'Neil:
60 mins : A rare Reds attack sees some brilliance from Torres take him to the byline but no-one is there to apply the finishing touch.
61 mins : GOAL! Fernando Torres: Hat-trick man.
62 mins : Substitution: Yossi Benayoun for Ryan Babel:
63 mins : First Booking: Fabio Rochemback:
64 mins : It should be 4-1 as an unmarked Lucas heads Gerrard's free-kick over the bar. A great chance
66 mins : Another great display from El Nino. Defenders are so frightened of his pace and it showed again there with his hat-trick goal, as Wheater and Schwarzer got into a muddle 30 yards from goal, allowing him to hook in. That's 21 for the season now
67 mins : If the Reds can see this through they will move into fourth place with Man City and Everton to play on Monday
68 mins : A Gerrard pass sends Torres through but he just misses out on a fourth with a shot that flies inches wide from a tight angle
69 mins : Substitution: Afonso Alves for Tuncay Sanli:
73 mins : Substitution: John Arne Riise for Dirk Kuyt:
76 mins : A chance for Boro to make it interesting but Aliadiere hammers over after a nice turn to outfox Aurelio
77 mins : Gerrard cuts in from the left but fires a shot well into Kop. Nevermind Stevie, just save them for the defining matches
79 mins : First Booking: Steve Finnan:
79 mins : Opportunity for Boro with a free-kick on the edge of the Reds' box - but it deflects off the wall and out for a corner
83 mins : There doesn't look like being any European hangover for the Reds.
83 mins : GOAL! Stuart Downing: Spoke too soon. Downing powers in to the box and slips it beyond Reina. 3-2.
85 mins : Sending Off: Jeremie Aliadiere:
88 mins : It's been an incindent packed encounter. Just a few minutes for the Reds to see it through and pick up three vital points
90 mins : First Booking: Luke Young:
90 mins : There will be a minimum of three minutes added time.
90 mins : Substitution: Peter Crouch for Fernando Torres:
16:52 GMT : Match Over

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