The man is back! Liverpool’s premier marksman long dogged by injury, loss of form, and persistent rumours of wanting away laid all to rest on this day. Fernando Torres roared back with two of the best goals, the second as sublime as any as the Reds sank the Premiership champions.
It was the sort of win that defines a season and served a stark reminder of how much Liverpool missed Torres through this very lean patch. With Newcastle sending Arsenal to another gloomy loss, the league looks very open. The unmistakable aura of a club finding its feet again should resurrect the prospect of a top four finish.
John Henry, the new owner, is no stranger to passion being the part owner of the Boston Red Sox but looked like he was having a hard time digesting the full throated fervour of YNWA and the ringing Kop. What he saw must have pleased him no end.
With Steven Gerrard providing an unrelenting presence and Lucas having his best game, Liverpool established firm control over midfield in the first half. Chelsea also looked sluggish and complacent missing Michael Essien’s dynamic presence. Dirk Kuyt the hardest working player in the league set up Torres with a beautiful cross over John Terry’s head which the Spaniard controlled with a masterful touch and finished perfectly in the 11th minute.
Jamie Carragher animated and showing a spring of a man a decade younger, marshaled the defense to repel the Chelsea push back. Just before close of the first half, Raul Meireles taking advantage of an imbalanced Ashley Cole slipped Torres a pass. A confident cut back took the striker past Branislav Ivanovic and a touch later a beautiful curling strike towards the far post left Petr Cech stranded. Simply breath taking. Torres on his day, is the world’s best striker.
Roy Hodgson a stroke away from apoplexy, visibly exhaled. Torres return to form also means Vicente Del Bosque can resolve Spain’s striker conundrum to push for the Euro qualifiers.
Chelsea turned it on in the second half as they brought on Didier Drogba. Liverpool was forced into a siege but they held on impressively. Kuyt might never be mistaken for his striker compatriot but his industry tracking back to help the defense was impeccable. Lucas was a disruptive presence. Reina was brilliant stopping a point blank Malouda and then getting enough of an Anelka piledriver that fortuitously bounced of the bar. He also snuffed out the sceptre of a Jamie Carragher own goal as he smothered his touch after Daniel Sturridge burst through.