Source: Daily_Mail
Liverpool 2 Wigan 1: Torres and Ngog prove ideal tonic for gambler Rafa
The nostalgia that engulfed Anfield last night did not quite extend to reviving the brand of football made famous by Bill Shankly, but there were no complaints from Rafa Benitez.[LNB]Illustrious names from Liverpool's past made their way to the centre circle at half-time and were joined by Shankly's children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren to hear a moving rendition of Amazing Grace from two Scottish pipers.[LNB]They know how to do justice to occasions like these at Anfield, and the memory of the incomparable Shankly's glorious reign was duly honoured in fitting style, 50 years to the day after it started.[LNB] Returning hero: Fernando Torres seals the win[LNB]A throwback to the swashbuckling days when opposing teams used to be swamped by wave after wave of attacks may have been the ultimate tribute but was, perhaps, too much to ask for after the trials and tribulations of the past few weeks.[LNB]A win of any sort was all Benitez requested, and any misgivings over the nervy, ill-at-ease nature in which it was secured will scarcely have mattered to Liverpool's under-fire manager, particularly in light of their two goalscorers.[LNB]Benitez took a calculated gamble by resisting the temptation to start with Fernando Torres for a second time in three days and entrusting front-running duties to David Ngog.[LNB]After seeing Torres' understudy respond with an early breakthrough his sixth goal in eight starts he may well consider the Midas touch has not deserted him after all.[LNB]If that was vindication for his single-mindedness in safeguarding the injury-hampered Torres' fragile fitness, there was an immensely satisfying bonus to follow, as the £21million record signing went on as a second-half substitute to chalk up 100 appearances for the club and edge closer to the record books in the process.[LNB] High riser: Ngog (second right) nets for Liverpool[LNB]After setting Liverpool nerves with a decisive strike in the 79th minute, Torres is on the brink of reaching 50 League goals faster than any other Anfield player. Given that he has another 10 games to come up with the one goal he needs to eclipse post-War centre forward Albert Stubbins, his place in Liverpool history looks assured.[LNB]'It is a fantastic achievement by Fernando,' said Benitez. 'I knew he was tired after the Arsenal game, and I told him it might be best to start on the bench, then go on near the end, and so it proved. It didn't matter that we could have been a bit more relaxed and could have scored more goals. It was a win, and that is all that mattered.'[LNB]Ngog has had his detractors in an uphill battle to prove his worth as a stand-in for Torres, but the numbers may start dwindling after another lively performance and opportunistic finish in the 10th minute.[LNB]As a Fabio Aurelio cross slanted in from the right touchline, the French striker was alert enough to dart in front of Chris Kirkland and glance a header into an empty net.[LNB]Kirkland hasn't given up hope of a World Cup place next summer but again showed how his outstanding shot-stopping qualities are occasionally undermined by questionable judgment.[LNB] [LNB] Special orders: Steven Gerrard and Rafael Benitez confer[LNB]He was at his agile razor-sharp best in the 17th minute, after a swiftly-taken throw by Yossi Benayoun released Ngog down the right flank. Dirk Kuyt met the cutback with a crisp first-time shot, only for Kirkland to react brilliantly to palm it over.[LNB]At fault for the opening goal, he was almost punished again after allowing a cross to sail over his head and seeing Kuyt hook it back across a vacant six-yard area.[LNB]For sheer show-stopping reflexes, though, he has few equals, as he demonstrated in the 51st minute when Kuyt steamed in to meet a Ngog cutback with a full-blooded first-time drive from 10 yards. Kirkland had no right to see it, let alone save it, but still managed to fling his arm up and touch it over in a movement that was little more than a blur.[LNB] [LNB] Memories: Liverpool fans unveil a tribute to the late, great Bill Shankly[LNB] [LNB]Liverpool's nerves should have been jangling more than ever in the 74th minute, when Pepe Reina lost a free-kick under pressure from Paul Scharner and saw the ball drop to the feet of unmarked substitute Jason Scotland on the edge of the six-yard area. In a bloomer that had echoes of Ronny Rosenthal's miss at Villa Park, the Wigan striker managed to volley against the bar.[LNB]Torres made him pay five minutes later, latching on to a misdirected header by Emerson Boyce and sprinting clear before drawing Kirkland and sidestepping his challenge.[LNB]Titus Bramble blocked his mishit shot on the line, but Torres was coolness itself as he calmly picked up the rebound and wrong-footed Bramble before forcing the ball home. [LNB]Charles N'Zogbia cut inside three challenges to fire an injury-time reply past Reina, but it came too late to trouble even a side as riddled with anxiety as Liverpool.[LNB] Wigan pounce for Ponce: Martinez eyes move for Velez Sarsfield starArsenal have the quality Liverpool lack to win Premier League, insists ParlourLIVERPOOL FC
