Liverpool keep pressure on after Fernando Torres brace sees off Blackburn

11 April 2009 14:38
A week when Liverpool need a miracle started with the simple, ruthless dismissal of the mundane. Rafa Benitez could not have hoped for more compliant opponents than Sam Allardyce's Blackburn, a side lining up with Christopher Samba, a central defender, as their lone striker. The suspicion lingers they would have forfeited the game had the option been offered. No such luck, and with just five minutes gone, their game plan – if hit and hope can be described as a plan – was left in tatters, thanks to a flash of sheer genius from Torres, a moment of which Marco van Basten would have been proud. Controlling Jamie Carragher's long ball with his chest and seemingly heading away from goal, the Spanish international pivoted perfectly on his left foot and, with his right, powered a half-volley over Paul Robinson and into the far corner of the net. 'It could be that we would be in a better position in the title race if he had been fit all season,' admitted Benitez. 'But this always happens after international tournaments.' That was as good as game over, given Blackburn's lack of ambition, and Liverpool could have been out of sight within 20 minutes had it not been for their own profligacy. By the time Torres towered over the stationary Samba to double the lead from Xabi Alonso's free kick, Liverpool had conspired to waste a host of opportunities to kill off Blackburn. Javier Mascherano, fed by Dirk Kuyt, shot straight at Robinson and Torres ballooned the rebound. Kuyt himself headed straight at the former England goalkeeper from six yards, this time Yossi Benayoun failing to convert as the ball rolled free. Even at 2-0 down, Allardyce refused to introduce Benni McCarthy, the international striker in a good run of form languishing on his bench. 'I didn't think we could play to Benni's strengths,' he said. 'I watched Didier Drogba make a massive difference on Wednesday and, though we don't have the same players as Chelsea, you can still use the same plan, but we didn't do enough.' In fact, it would not be unfair to say that Blackburn did not really do anything. The second half was little more than a glamorous training exercise for the hosts, the crowd happily basking in the sunshine. Kuyt and Albert Riera both missed half chances as Liverpool occasionally woke from their slumber, while Javier Mascherano and Riera again forced Robinson and Stephen Warnock into last-ditch clearances. It took Blackburn's first chance of note, on 77 minutes, to force Liverpool into action, Samba firing straight at Pepe Reina after finding himself unmarked in the box. Such is life, Allardyce's critics would say, when you select a defender as a forward. Six minutes later, Daniel Agger proved not all centre-backs are so goal shy, striding forward and swerving a shot past Robinson from fully 30 yards. The Danish defender, hamstrung by injury, has seen his chances limited this campaign and has admitted that a lack of first team action has contributed to his failure to sign a new contract. It is thought, though, that he is seen as a long-term replacement for Jamie Carragher, over whose sharpness Benitez is believed to have concerns. A Liverpool match would not be complete without an injury time goal, though, and David N'Gog duly delivered, nodding Lucas's header across goal home from less than a yard. No whinging, no moaning. Now it's time for the miracle.  

Source: Telegraph