Back To Winning Ways

Fernando Torres in action against Sunderland As much as I hate to see Sunderland lose under Roy Keane, I’m delighted that Liverpool stuffed three goals past them yesterday.

Anything less than a win would have been a disaster.

But patience, and perseverance paid off with Liverpool taking the win yesterday thanks to goals from Peter Crouch, Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard.

It took until the 57th minute for Liverpool to find the back of the net, chances not so plentiful in the first half. But when it came, it came under the guise of Jamie Carragher playing in a winger’s role. Carragher collected the ball up front from Torres, took it out wide on the right, drew the defender to him, skipped around for the cross and landed a great ball on Crouch’s head at the back post for the Englishman to head home for the opening goal.

Fernando Torres made it 2-0 just before the 70 minute mark, collecting a flick on from Crouch to race clean into the box for a deft finish, firing low to Gordon’s right and into the back of the Sunderland net. As soon as he’d collected the ball outside the box you could tell it was a goal. I’m still in awe at the composure of Torres when he gets into a certain goal-scoring opportunity.

Liverpool’s third goal game in the form of a Steven Gerrard penalty just before full time. Sunderland had two penalty claims (including handball against Mascherano) dismissed before Liverpool got their penalty at the end of the game. Nyron Nosworthy bustled Jermaine Pennant over in the box to set up the kick, Gordon saving well but the pure momentum from Gerrard’s shot carrying the ball over the line to make it 3-0.

Rafa had shuffled things around from the West Ham game but went back to seeing Skrtel and Hyypia in the heart of defence with Jamie Carragher starting out as right back. Lucas Leiva also started, on left midfield before being replaced by Yossi Benayoun on the hour mark.

Pepe Reina will be delighted too with his performance as he now sits at the top of the Liverpool goalkeeping charts in the race for ‘50 clean sheets’. It has taken Pepe 92 games in the Liverpool shirt to amass 50 clean sheets, three better than Ray Clemence (92) and better again than Bruce Grobbelaar (109).

It’s a pity it took until February to get our first league win of 2008. We’re still miles behind in the league, though the win does move Liverpool up to fifth. Hopefully it’s a sign of things to come for the month ahead.

Popularity: 56% [?]