LIVERPOOL: Fernando Torres marked Liverpool's final match of the season at Anfield by scoring the winner in their 1-0 win over Manchester City yesterday.
It meant the Spain striker had now scored in eight straight league games at Anfield, equalling the club record of Roger Hunt, a member of England's 1966 World Cup winning team.
But Torres's 32nd goal of an impressive debut campaign for the Reds couldn't disguise the fact that, at 11 points behind arch-rivals and Premier League leaders Manchester United, their 19-year-wait for the title would carry on into next season.
However, the build-up to this match was dominated by the continued speculation over Sven-Goran Eriksson's future as City manager, with the club's fans making it clear that they are fully behind the Swede, who, reports claim, will be sacked by Thai owner Thaksin Shinawatra at the end of the season.
It took them almost 20 minutes to cause the visitors problems when Ryan Babel headed wide from Dirk Kuyt's cross with goalkeeper Joe Hart stranded.
Torres dragged well off target with his first effort on goal a couple of minutes later before captain Steven Gerrard drilled narrowly wide from more than 25 yards.
Just after the half hour, Hart made a fine save from Gerrard's curling effort after the England international had been fed by Argentinian left-back Emiliano Insua, who was making his first start at Anfield.
Less than half a minute after the restart, Richard Dunne was at full stretch to deny Torres after fine inter-play with Gerrard.
And a minute later, the same combination opened City up again, with Gerrard sliding Torres in behind Corluka only for the striker to push his shot past the far post.
Five minutes after the interval, City threatened for the first time when Elano's curling free-kick beat Jose Reina only to rebound away off the post.
It was far more open than the first half and at the other end, Javier Mascherano skipped past Elano and Michael Johnson and fizzed a shot narrowly high and wide.
But just before the hour, Torres grabbed his 23rd Premier League goal of the season with a composed finish after he surged onto Kuyt's diagonal pass and slipped a low finish past Hart.
Earlier, Everton missed a chance to wrap up a UEFA Cup spot as Nicklas Bendtner's late goal condemned David Moyes's side to a 1-0 defeat against Arsenal.
Bendtner's powerful header left them to sweat for another week. Now the Toffees have to avoid defeat at home to Newcastle next Sunday to ensure they finish above Aston Villa, who remain three points behind Moyes's side. (AFP) |
