Source: Daily_Mail
LIVERPOOL 4 BLACKBURN 0: Torres, not Rafa, is the one to fear for Fergie
The obligatory broadside from Rafa Benitez will have made little impact on Sir Alex Ferguson, but Fernando Torres may just have found a way of making the Manchester United manager sit up and take notice.
Hampered by injury for a large chunk of the season, Liverpool's record £21million signing has regained not only full fitness but the sharpness that makes him one of the game's most feared forwards.
Torres is fully mobile again and making up for lost time in a way that would have been too much for even the most accomplished of defences, let alone Blackburn's.
After seeing him once more seize top place for his side, however briefly, Benitez broke off from taunting Manchester United counterpart Fergie to describe the influence a fully fit Torres might have exerted on the title race, but for persistent hamstring problems.
An unstoppable angled volley, executed in the midst of a 180-degree turn that started with his back to goal, plus a 33rd-minute header, banished any lingering fears of more Anfield frustration and left the Liverpool manager saying: ' It makes a massive difference when you score early, because the other team have to come out and that leaves space for us to exploit.
'It could have been us in the driving seat, if Fernando had been fit all season. We have had one or two draws at home, and there could have been a huge difference if Torres or Steven Gerrard had been on the pitch in those games.
'But I know we are doing well, because Ferguson is always talking about us. He wasn't doing that in previous seasons, so it shows he knows now we are a threat to him.'
Torres is determined to take his current lethal form into tomorrow's Champions League return meeting with Chelsea, when Liverpool somehow have to find a way of overturning a 3-1 deficit to reach the semi-finals.
'It was a good day for me,' he said. 'It was a great first goal, and I was pleased with the second, because I work hard on my heading. It has been really frustrating missing so many league games. I have scored 11 goals in 19 appearances, which is good, but we have to learn and try and make sure I stay 100 per cent fit for all the games next season.
'It is going to be very difficult scoring three goals at Stamford Bridge, but we are confident we can do it. I think Chelsea will play to win, rather than just defend but, after winning 4- 1 at Manchester United, we know we can score the goals we need.'
Most teams with title aspirations need unsung heroes, as well as match-winners, and Dirk Kuyt is rapidly emerging as Liverpool's. Switched from the right flank to a supporting role behind Torres, in the absence of Gerrard, he applied himself as diligently as ever.
He might have done better with a close-range 27th-minute header, which Paul Robinson brilliantly clawed away, but no one could have done more to keep Liverpool ticking over, according to Blackburn midfielder David Dunn.
'Torres is such a big threat, with his runs and finishing, but Kuyt is just as important in my opinion,' he said. 'He is such an unselfish player. He can fill a number of positions, and you know he will work his socks off and never stop running. He is very good and maybe doesn't always get the credit he deserves.'
Blackburn failed to mount a single serious threat, prior to Pepe Reina diving to save Christopher Samba's 77th-minute shot, and could have had few complaints about Liverpool doubling their lead late on with a 30-yard piledriver from Daniel Agger and a point-blank header by substitute David Ngog.
'I'm angry with the players, because I expected more,' said manager Sam Allardyce. 'When your players don't implement the game plan, or even try to, you are bound to be angry.
'We've got Stoke next, and I'll make sure they stick to the game plan for that one.'
LIVERPOOL (4-4-1-1): Reina 6; Arbeloa 7, Carragher 6, Agger 7, Insua 7; Benayoun 7, Mascherano 7, Alonso 6 (Lucas 87min), Riera 7; Kuyt 6 (Ngog 84); Torres 8 (El Zhar 74, 7). Booked: Agger, Alonso.
BLACKBURN ROVERS (4-5-1): Robinson 7; Andrews 4, Ooijer 6, Nelsen 6, Givet 5; Treacy 5, Mokoena 6 (Doran 46, 5), Tugay 6 (Grella 66, 5), Dunn 5 (Villanueva 59, 6), Warnock 6; Samba 5. Booked: Andrews.
Man of the match: Fernando Torres.
Referee: Mike Riley.
