Liverpool FC 3 – Lille 0
Although the day began with the focus on Albert Riera and his “sinking ship” comments it was fellow Spaniard Torres who bailed them out and set the course for Hamburg and the Europa League finals last night.
A brace of goals from Torres following a penalty by Gerrard completed a fine comeback as Liverpool overturned the first leg deficit and sees them going to Old Trafford on Sunday in a more buoyant mood than a week ago.
The starting line-up remained the same as the previous week due to Aquilani being ill and Rodriguez ineligible but any fears that the return of Lucas alongside Kuyt would be a negative were swiftly swept aside.
It took the Reds only 3 minutes to wipe out Lille’s 1 goal advantage when Lucas Leiva was felled and Steven Gerrard stepped up coolly for the penalty, sending Mickael Landreau the wrong way.
Although the goal levelled the tie on aggregate it didn’t alter the intent of either team with Liverpool continuing to attack and Lille on the counter-attack, perhaps in search of a decisive away goal.
Torres twice went close to doubling the lead just minutes later and on 23 minutes Glen Johnson almost grabbed his third of the season with a snap shot that flew straight in to the arms of a relieved Landreau.
With half time approaching the scoreboard certainly didn’t reflect the home side’s dominance.
Torres, having rediscovered his appetite for destruction against Portsmouth, calmed the nerves of the Kopites when just 4 minutes into the second half he sprinted onto a loose ball and dinked a sublime finish over the advancing Landreau. He followed this up with a decisive strike on the 89th minute which earned him a standing ovation from guest of honour, Diego Maradona on his substitution in injury time.
A brace of goals from Torres following a penalty by Gerrard completed a fine comeback as Liverpool overturned the first leg deficit and sees them going to Old Trafford on Sunday in a more buoyant mood than a week ago.
The starting line-up remained the same as the previous week due to Aquilani being ill and Rodriguez ineligible but any fears that the return of Lucas alongside Kuyt would be a negative were swiftly swept aside.
It took the Reds only 3 minutes to wipe out Lille’s 1 goal advantage when Lucas Leiva was felled and Steven Gerrard stepped up coolly for the penalty, sending Mickael Landreau the wrong way.
Although the goal levelled the tie on aggregate it didn’t alter the intent of either team with Liverpool continuing to attack and Lille on the counter-attack, perhaps in search of a decisive away goal.
Torres twice went close to doubling the lead just minutes later and on 23 minutes Glen Johnson almost grabbed his third of the season with a snap shot that flew straight in to the arms of a relieved Landreau.
With half time approaching the scoreboard certainly didn’t reflect the home side’s dominance.
Torres, having rediscovered his appetite for destruction against Portsmouth, calmed the nerves of the Kopites when just 4 minutes into the second half he sprinted onto a loose ball and dinked a sublime finish over the advancing Landreau. He followed this up with a decisive strike on the 89th minute which earned him a standing ovation from guest of honour, Diego Maradona on his substitution in injury time.
