In a week that saw Rafael Benitez, and the player himself, criticising the form of the Spain striker, against the Hammers, Torres demonstrated just what he is capable of. With twenty minutes on the clock, the Reds no.9 used his pace to drive into the box before rifling a shot past Robert Green from an acute angle. Green arguably should have been tighter to his near post and could have done better to keep the shot out - a mishap both Gianfranco Zola and Fabio Capello will surely have made a note of.
Torres not only demonstrated his killer instinct in front of goal with a powerful downward header to win the game, but also how important he is to this Liverpool team. Once again he underlined that if the Premier League title does end up at Anfield come next May, the Spaniard will have played a major part. His link up play, with Steven Gerrard and Yossi Benayoun in particular was exceptional and he twice gifted the little Israeli good opportunities to score, but despite the hat-trick in last weekend's game against Burnley the tricky winger couldn't add to his seasons tally.
Steven Gerrard Showing Signs of Frustration
As always Steven Gerrard was an integral cog in the wheel and literally ran himself into the ground. At times the captain looked frustrated with his team mates inability to get the ball forward quick enough and was dropping deep to collect the ball and advance it up field himself. The Liverpool captain has played the deeper role in the two previous games and it may only be a matter of time before Benitez decides enough is enough for Lucas Leiva. Though the Brazilian keeps the ball moving and retains possession he is not prepared to risk a ball forward with a defence splitting pass the way Gerrard can.
Playing Gerrard in a deeper role would see Dirk Kuyt reshuffled into the middle where he is much happier and produces his best form. And it was the Dutchman's anticipation in the six-yard box that allowed him to poke Gerrard's header in for Liverpool's second goal. Though Kuyt is full of running down the right hand side he doesn't have the pace and close ball control of a natural winger and can also be accused of a lack of directness going forward which ultimately restricts Liverpool's cutting edge.
Set-Pieces Prove a Defensive Weakness
Despite their attacking frailties however, Liverpool are the leagues top scorers with 16 goals in six matches. And it's just as well the forwards are finding the net as the defence leaked yet another two goals from set plays. The Reds have now conceded nine, all of which come from set-pieces, though two have been penalties. Jamie Carragher was at fault for the first after pulling down Zavon Hines having been beaten for pace. New signing Alessandro Diamanti stepped up for the first equaliser. The second equaliser came from a corner that Carlton Cole scored with his head, raising further question marks over Benitez' zonal marking policy.
It was a classic Premiership football match and a typical Liverpool performance in that they controlled the game for long periods, struggled to create many clear cut chances and conceded from a set-piece. They'll take the three points though.
