Torres late show leads Liverpool to Villa victory
Thursday, 31 December 2009
LONDON, Dec 30 (AFP): Fernando Torres's stoppage-time goal saw Liverpool to a 1-0 win away to Aston Villa Tuesday as the Merseysiders reignited their bid for a Champions League place.
The match at a snow covered Villa Park was heading for a goalless draw until Spain striker Torres made the most of a defensive mix-up deep into added-on time with a precise and powerful finish past Brad Friedel.
Victory saw Liverpool leapfrog Birmingham into seventh place and close to within four points of a top four spot that will secure Champions League football next season for the five-times European Cup winners.
Defeat, Villa's second in as many games after their 3-0 loss away to third- placed Arsenal, left them in sixth place and revived doubts about their ability to sustain a bid to break into the leading quartet after they faltered at a similar stage last season.
Torres's strike saw him become the quickest Liverpool player to 50 league goals, needing only 72 appearances to reach the landmark, and Reds manager Rafael Benitez, speaking to Sky Sports, said of his compatriot: "He's a very, very good player, a key player for us and his record is amazing.
Villa manager Martin O'Neill felt this latest defeat was harsh on his hard- working team.
At the other end of the table, Stephen Hunt was Hull City's hero with two goals as they came from 2-0 down to share the points in a 2-2 draw away to relegation rivals Bolton Wanderers at the Reebok Stadium.
Ivan Klasnic and Kevin Davies looked to have secured a win for Bolton that would have lifted the hosts out of the bottom three.
But Republic of Ireland midfielder Hunt scored in the 71st minute and was on-target again seven minutes later.
The match at a snow covered Villa Park was heading for a goalless draw until Spain striker Torres made the most of a defensive mix-up deep into added-on time with a precise and powerful finish past Brad Friedel.
Victory saw Liverpool leapfrog Birmingham into seventh place and close to within four points of a top four spot that will secure Champions League football next season for the five-times European Cup winners.
Defeat, Villa's second in as many games after their 3-0 loss away to third- placed Arsenal, left them in sixth place and revived doubts about their ability to sustain a bid to break into the leading quartet after they faltered at a similar stage last season.
Torres's strike saw him become the quickest Liverpool player to 50 league goals, needing only 72 appearances to reach the landmark, and Reds manager Rafael Benitez, speaking to Sky Sports, said of his compatriot: "He's a very, very good player, a key player for us and his record is amazing.
Villa manager Martin O'Neill felt this latest defeat was harsh on his hard- working team.
At the other end of the table, Stephen Hunt was Hull City's hero with two goals as they came from 2-0 down to share the points in a 2-2 draw away to relegation rivals Bolton Wanderers at the Reebok Stadium.
Ivan Klasnic and Kevin Davies looked to have secured a win for Bolton that would have lifted the hosts out of the bottom three.
But Republic of Ireland midfielder Hunt scored in the 71st minute and was on-target again seven minutes later.