Torres lifts Reds back into top four

LIVERPOOL, England (AFP) - Fernando Torres claimed his first Premiership hat-trick for Liverpool as Rafa Benitez's team fought from a goal down to claim a 3-2 victory over Middlesbrough that lifts them back into the top four.

A stormy clash saw Boro finish with ten men after striker Jeremie Aliadiere was sent off for clashing with Liverpool's Argentinian midfielder Javier Mascherano.

Spain striker Torres, nicknamed 'El Nino' by the Liverpool supporters, almost single-handedly claimed the points for the home side with a stunning display of finishing against Gareth Southgate's team.

The win boosted Liverpool's hopes of claiming the final Champions League spot by lifting them above Merseyside rivals Everton -- who travel to Manchester City on Monday -- on goal difference.

The big question going into the game was which Liverpool would turn up against Middlesbrough? The one that has become the scourge of Europe's best teams or the team that can surrender meekly to motivated journeymen, such as against Barnsley in the FA Cup last week.

Judging by their unimpressive start to the game, it looked like it was going to be another depressing day for Benitez's team and Boro deservedly took the lead on nine minutes when Turkish striker Tuncay Sanli stunned the home side in front of The Kop.

Dutch winger Ryan Babel had conceded a free-kick by handling outside the penalty area and Boro winger Stewart Downing delivered the perfect cross from the set-piece for Tuncay to head in past keeper Jose Reina from six yards.

Liverpool's failure to hold their offside trap gifted Tuncay his chance, but Benitez's men were able to turn to Torres to get them out of the mess that they had suddenly found themselves in.

The former Atletico Madrid hitman has carried Liverpool through games at times this season with his impressive goal output and he took his tally to 20 for the campaign by netting twice inside sixty seconds to cancel out Boro's lead and put the home side ahead.

Torres's first came following a mistake by Boro captain Julio Arca, whose back-header towards his own goal was intercepted by the Spaniard.

With a head start on his marker, Torres bore down on goal and rode a hefty challenge by defender Emanuel Pogatetz before finishing brilliantly from six yards.

It was an example of his predatory instinct, but his next goal seconds later was one of the best of his brief time in the Premiership.

Babel's run down the left resulted in the ball dropping to Fabio Aurelio and the Brazilian full-back squared for Torres 30 yards out. The striker then took a touch to control the ball before unleashing an unstoppable right-foot strike past Australian keeper Mark Schwarzer from 25 yards.

Boro fought back, though, and Gareth Southgate's men believed they had scored an equaliser when Tuncay diverted Downing's cross into the net on 35 minutes, but referee Lee Mason had spotted a handball by the Turk and he correctly ruled the goal out.

Southgate's men were not out of the game by any means, though, and they continued to pose Liverpool problems in the second-half.

But the threat that they posed up-front was nullified as Sami Hyypia began to get to grips with Tuncay and Liverpool sealed the game when Torres completed his hat-trick goal on 61 minutes.

It was a goal that Schwarzer will want to forget. The keeper raced out of his area to clear Dirk Kuyt's long-ball, but he collided with defender David Wheater, allowing Torres to score into an empty net from 18 yards.

And although Downing scored to make it 3-2 with seven minutes left to play, Aliadiere's dismissal ended their hopes of a draw and Liverpool were able to hold on to secure a hard-fought three points.


source: sport.yahoo.com