Liverpool FC 1 – Aston Villa 0
Fernando Torres netted his 50th league goal for Liverpool in the third minute of injury time to become the fastest player to achieve a half-century for the Merseysiders in his 72nd Premier League game.
Torres. One chance, one goal. That, ultimately, was the story at Villa Park.
It didn’t matter that the opportunity presented itself in the dying seconds. It didn’t matter, either, that Pepe Reina had kept Liverpool in touch by producing two saves of the highest quality.
The Spanish goalkeeper was the match-saver. His compatriot was the match-winner. Top-notch strikers need just that faint whiff of a chance, and that sums up Torres.
You don’t beat the Roger Hunts, Ian Rushes, Robbie Fowlers and Michael Owens of this world to the title of being the fastest scorer of 50 league goals for a club like Liverpool unless you have got that eye and killer instinct.
Manager Rafa Benitez said with something of an understatement at the final whistle: ‘I knew we were signing a very good player with a good mentality. He has one chance. He scores.'
In a season where Liverpool supporters are grasping for any signs of consistency, this could be a turning point.
It was the club’s first 1-0 victory of the season, the first time since the end of September that they had strung together back-to-back victories in the Premier League.
Yet, as much as Torres should grab the glory for the cool efficiency of his late goal, this was as much a triumph for Reina, who made two saves of stunning quality that provided the platform for Torres to steal the limelight.
Liverpool almost took the lead in the 17th minute when Torres set-up captain Steven Gerrard with a shooting opportunity at the top of the area.
Gerrard’s right-foot curling effort had Villa keeper Brad Friedel scrambling to tip the ball over.
Reds keeper Reina then needed to make a brilliant save in the 30th minute to prevent Downing scoring from Milner’s corner.
Downing, signed from Boro for £12million last summer, struck Milner’s delivery first time at the back post six yards out but Reina blocked it with his arm.
Liverpool continued to create chances, though, as Torres tested Friedel with a header after Carlos Cuellar allowed the ball to bounce in the box.
And Villa were fortunate not to concede a penalty before half-time when Richard Dunne caught Dirk Kuyt with a late challenge.
But Villa improved after the break as Agbonlahor brought Reina into action with a low drive and striker John Carew, recalled for the injured Emile Heskey, headed wide from a corner when he should have scored before Torres struck.
Villa boss Martin O’Neill said: “We should have won the game and we didn’t win, we lost it so it is pretty hard to take.
“The ball bounces kindly to them so it was a collection of circumstances that the ball arrived there.
“Their keeper has made a good save in each half and it is hard to take.”
Fernando Torres netted his 50th league goal for Liverpool in the third minute of injury time to become the fastest player to achieve a half-century for the Merseysiders in his 72nd Premier League game.Torres. One chance, one goal. That, ultimately, was the story at Villa Park.
It didn’t matter that the opportunity presented itself in the dying seconds. It didn’t matter, either, that Pepe Reina had kept Liverpool in touch by producing two saves of the highest quality.
The Spanish goalkeeper was the match-saver. His compatriot was the match-winner. Top-notch strikers need just that faint whiff of a chance, and that sums up Torres.
You don’t beat the Roger Hunts, Ian Rushes, Robbie Fowlers and Michael Owens of this world to the title of being the fastest scorer of 50 league goals for a club like Liverpool unless you have got that eye and killer instinct.
Manager Rafa Benitez said with something of an understatement at the final whistle: ‘I knew we were signing a very good player with a good mentality. He has one chance. He scores.'
In a season where Liverpool supporters are grasping for any signs of consistency, this could be a turning point.
It was the club’s first 1-0 victory of the season, the first time since the end of September that they had strung together back-to-back victories in the Premier League.
Yet, as much as Torres should grab the glory for the cool efficiency of his late goal, this was as much a triumph for Reina, who made two saves of stunning quality that provided the platform for Torres to steal the limelight.
Liverpool almost took the lead in the 17th minute when Torres set-up captain Steven Gerrard with a shooting opportunity at the top of the area.
Gerrard’s right-foot curling effort had Villa keeper Brad Friedel scrambling to tip the ball over.
Reds keeper Reina then needed to make a brilliant save in the 30th minute to prevent Downing scoring from Milner’s corner.
Downing, signed from Boro for £12million last summer, struck Milner’s delivery first time at the back post six yards out but Reina blocked it with his arm.
Liverpool continued to create chances, though, as Torres tested Friedel with a header after Carlos Cuellar allowed the ball to bounce in the box.
And Villa were fortunate not to concede a penalty before half-time when Richard Dunne caught Dirk Kuyt with a late challenge.
But Villa improved after the break as Agbonlahor brought Reina into action with a low drive and striker John Carew, recalled for the injured Emile Heskey, headed wide from a corner when he should have scored before Torres struck.
Villa boss Martin O’Neill said: “We should have won the game and we didn’t win, we lost it so it is pretty hard to take.
“The ball bounces kindly to them so it was a collection of circumstances that the ball arrived there.
“Their keeper has made a good save in each half and it is hard to take.”
