Archive for the ‘Fernando Torres’ Category
PORTSMOUTH, England : Rafael Benitez insists Liverpool are strong enough to compete for the Premier League title despite needing a half-fit Fernando Torres to rescue a 3-2 stoppage time win at Portsmouth on Saturday.
Liverpool looked set to fall further behind Manchester United in the title race after trailing 2-1 until six minutes from time before strikes from substitutes Dirk Kuyt and Torres took Benitez’s side to the top of the table.
Benitez, who omitted Torres, Kuyt and Xabi Alonso from his starting line-up after club doctors advised him they were suffering from fatigue, said: “The strength in the squad is good.
“We had to change our system because the doctors told me Torres, Alonso and Kuyt were very tired. The players will tell you they were ready to play but we had all the information and decided it was best to leave them out.
“I thought the players who replaced them did very well. David Ngog, Ryan Babel and Yossi Benayoun showed they are good players and can do a good job for the team. That will be important between now and the end of the season.
“Every win now is crucial and we have to win almost every game so everyone in the squad will have to play their part.
“I thought the team I put out would be good enough to win and I felt we were in control from the first minute.
“We gave away two bad goals and could have lost but we deserved to win because we worked as hard as them and played better. The team spirit and character is very good and confidence is high and it will stay that way for the rest of the season.”
Liverpool, already weakened by the absence of injured captain Steven Gerrard, fell behind in the 62nd minute when David Nugent raced onto Peter Crouch’s pass to slot home through goalkeeper Pepe Reina’s legs.
Fabio Aurello equalised seven minutes later, rifling substitute Alonso’s free kick into the bottom right corner after David James had handled Crouch’s back pass.
Portsmouth went back in front 12 minutes from time through Herman Hreidarsson’s header from a Nadir Belhadj free-kick before Kuyt drew Liverpool level once more with a fine 84th minute shot into the roof of the net after Torres had pulled the ball back from the byline.
Torres had the last word by rising at Portsmouth’s near post to head in Benayoun’s 91st minute cross and sent the 3,000 travelling Liverpool fans wild with delight.
Benitez says he will allow Torres to play for Spain in Wednesday’s friendly in Sevilla with England despite concerns over his fitness.
“We have spoken to the Spain manager and the fitness coach and the know Fernando’s situation. We have five players in the Spanish squad and they will all be playing,” said Benitez.
“Obviously we would prefer they do not play many minutes but that is the same for every Premier League manager.”
Defeat left Portsmouth just a point above the relegation zone but manager Tony Adams is confident his team can survive.
Adams said: “It is hard to come away with nothing after a game like that but we made some bad defensive mistakes again.
“We have got a third of the season to go and have to play the teams around us so we are not too downhearted.”
– AFP/yb
Channel News Asia
LONDON: Fernando Torres kept Liverpool’s dream of a first English league title in 19 years alive with a stoppage-time winner at Portsmouth but Chelsea look dead and buried after yet another stumble.
Rafael Benitez’s side twice came from a goal down at Fratton Park before Torres, left on the bench until 15 minutes from time, met Yossi Benayoun’s cutback with a bullet header to seal a 3-2 win that lifted the Reds a point clear of Manchester United at the top of the table.
The champions have played two games less but the resilience displayed by Liverpool on Saturday suggests the title battle is far from over.
“We showed character, determination to the end and desire,” said a relieved Benitez, who had gambled on starting first-team regulars Torres, Dirk Kuyt and Xavi Alonso on the bench on a day when he was missing injured captain Steven Gerrard.
“We are in a good position and we are confident we can stay there. If we are near the top in the final month of the season, we can fight for the title.”
Chelsea, though, appear to be out of the reckoning after a goalless draw at home to Hull left Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side languishing in fourth place.
The Stamford Bridge stalemate meant the Blues have won just two of their last six matches in the league and enabled Aston Villa, 2-0 winners at Blackburn, to leapfrog them into third place.
If United win at West Ham on Sunday, Chelea will find themselves eight points adrift of the leaders having played a game more and the jeers of their own fans spoke volumes about the club’s decline
Chelsea have now dropped 16 points at home this season and Scolari was conspicuous by his absence from the post-match inquest, leaving assistant Ray Wilkins to defend the man who guided Brazil to World Cup glory in 2002.
“People do pay a lot of money to watch football and if they want to boo then by all means come and boo,” Wilkins said.
“But to say someone does not know what he is doing when he has achieved what he has in the game, is out of order.”
Liverpool looked destined to drop points for the entire 90 minutes at Fratton Park.
Fabio Aurelio’s strike cancelled out David Nugent’s 62nd-minute goal but Pompey restored their advantage with only 12 minutes left thanks to a Hermann Hreidarsson header.
But Dirk Kuyt took advantage of some shoddy defending to lash in an 85th-minute equaliser, setting the scene for Torres to floor Tony Adams’s side with virtually the last touch of the match.
Villa continue to go for strength to strength after what was a club record seventh consecutive away win in the league.
James Milner’s 27th-minute shot gave Martin O’Neill’s side a first-half lead and Gabriel Agbonlahor deflected shot sealed the points in the final minute.
Brazilian striker Jo had a dream debut for Everton, who followed up their FA Cup win over Liverpool in midweek with a convincing 3-0 win over Bolton.
After winning the penalty that enabled Mikel Arteta to put his new club ahead five minutes before the break, Jo opened his Everton account four minutes after the break then added a last-minute penalty of his own.
In one match since he signed on loan from Manchester City, the Brazilian has already scored twice as many goals as he managed in six months at City.
An equally impressive debut by Shay Given helped City pull a little further clear of trouble with a 1-0 win over Middlesbrough.
Boro enjoyed the better of the chances but were frustrated by a string of fine saves from the former Newcastle goalkeeper before Craig Bellamy sealed the points for City with a 51st-minute strike.
The defeat left Boro mired in the relegation zone and without a win in 13 league games.
Newcastle handed ailing manager Joe Kinnear the perfect tonic with a 3-2 win at bottom side West Brom, their first victory in seven league matches.
Marc-Antoine Fortune cancelled out Damien Duff’s second-minute opener, but the Magpies reclaimed the lead through Danish winger Peter Lovenkrands and Steven Taylor’s strike left them firmly in contol at the break.
Fortune struck again in the 73rd minute to ensure a tense finale but Newcastle held out.
Wigan’s meeting with Fulham ended in a dour goalless stalemate while Sunderland took a big step towards survival with a 2-0 win over ten-man Stoke City.
Trinidad and Tobago striker Kenwyne Jones settled the contest with 12 minutes left after Stoke had had Matthew Etherington ordered off for kicking out at Danny Collins. David Healy notched Sunderland’s second in the final minute.
– AFP/yb
Channel News Asia
LONDON: Fernando Torres kept Liverpool’s dream of a first English league title in 19 years alive with a stoppage-time winner at Portsmouth but Chelsea look dead and buried after yet another stumble.
Rafael Benitez’s side twice came from a goal down at Fratton Park before Torres, left on the bench until 15 minutes from time, met Yossi Benayoun’s cutback with a bullet header to seal a 3-2 win that lifted the Reds a point clear of Manchester United at the top of the table.
The champions have played two games less but the resilience displayed by Liverpool on Saturday suggests the title battle is far from over.
“We showed character, determination to the end and desire,” said a relieved Benitez, who had gambled on starting first-team regulars Torres, Dirk Kuyt and Xavi Alonso on the bench on a day when he was missing injured captain Steven Gerrard.
“We are in a good position and we are confident we can stay there. If we are near the top in the final month of the season, we can fight for the title.”
Chelsea, though, appear to be out of the reckoning after a goalless draw at home to Hull left Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side languishing in fourth place.
The Stamford Bridge stalemate meant the Blues have won just two of their last six matches in the league and enabled Aston Villa, 2-0 winners at Blackburn, to leapfrog them into third place.
If United win at West Ham on Sunday, Chelea will find themselves eight points adrift of the leaders having played a game more and the jeers of their own fans spoke volumes about the club’s decline
Chelsea have now dropped 16 points at home this season and Scolari was conspicuous by his absence from the post-match inquest, leaving assistant Ray Wilkins to defend the man who guided Brazil to World Cup glory in 2002.
“People do pay a lot of money to watch football and if they want to boo then by all means come and boo,” Wilkins said.
“But to say someone does not know what he is doing when he has achieved what he has in the game, is out of order.”
Liverpool looked destined to drop points for the entire 90 minutes at Fratton Park.
Fabio Aurelio’s strike cancelled out David Nugent’s 62nd-minute goal but Pompey restored their advantage with only 12 minutes left thanks to a Hermann Hreidarsson header.
But Dirk Kuyt took advantage of some shoddy defending to lash in an 85th-minute equaliser, setting the scene for Torres to floor Tony Adams’s side with virtually the last touch of the match.
Villa continue to go for strength to strength after what was a club record seventh consecutive away win in the league.
James Milner’s 27th-minute shot gave Martin O’Neill’s side a first-half lead and Gabriel Agbonlahor deflected shot sealed the points in the final minute.
Brazilian striker Jo had a dream debut for Everton, who followed up their FA Cup win over Liverpool in midweek with a convincing 3-0 win over Bolton.
After winning the penalty that enabled Mikel Arteta to put his new club ahead five minutes before the break, Jo opened his Everton account four minutes after the break then added a last-minute penalty of his own.
In one match since he signed on loan from Manchester City, the Brazilian has already scored twice as many goals as he managed in six months at City.
An equally impressive debut by Shay Given helped City pull a little further clear of trouble with a 1-0 win over Middlesbrough.
Boro enjoyed the better of the chances but were frustrated by a string of fine saves from the former Newcastle goalkeeper before Craig Bellamy sealed the points for City with a 51st-minute strike.
The defeat left Boro mired in the relegation zone and without a win in 13 league games.
Newcastle handed ailing manager Joe Kinnear the perfect tonic with a 3-2 win at bottom side West Brom, their first victory in seven league matches.
Marc-Antoine Fortune cancelled out Damien Duff’s second-minute opener, but the Magpies reclaimed the lead through Danish winger Peter Lovenkrands and Steven Taylor’s strike left them firmly in contol at the break.
Fortune struck again in the 73rd minute to ensure a tense finale but Newcastle held out.
Wigan’s meeting with Fulham ended in a dour goalless stalemate while Sunderland took a big step towards survival with a 2-0 win over ten-man Stoke City.
Trinidad and Tobago striker Kenwyne Jones settled the contest with 12 minutes left after Stoke had had Matthew Etherington ordered off for kicking out at Danny Collins. David Healy notched Sunderland’s second in the final minute.
– AFP/yb
Channel News Asia
LIVERPOOL, England: Fernando Torres struck twice in the dying minutes against 10-man Chelsea to keep Liverpool’s title dream alive in a dramatic finale at Anfield on Sunday.
Rafa Benitez’s side looked to be heading for another frustrating draw as Chelsea held out after Frank Lampard’s second half dismissal for a lunge on Xabi Alonso.
But Torres struck in the 89th minute when he latched on to a cross by Fabio Aurelio before cementing the points deep into stoppage time after being teed-up by Yossi Benayoun.
They were the Spanish international’s first Premier League goals since October and put Liverpool two points behind leaders Manchester United, who have a game in hand.
More importantly, the result almost certainly ended Chelsea’s title challenge for another season as Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side self-destructed.
The Blues are five points behind United and have yet to beat any of their ‘big four’ rivals this season.
While Scolari opted to keep faith with the 11 who started the 2-0 win over Middlesbrough in midweek, Benitez made three changes from the side which stumbled to a 1-1 draw at Wigan.
Robbie Keane’s omission only fuelled speculation that the out-of-favour Republic of Ireland striker could be on his way out of Anfield before Monday’s transfer deadline with his former club Tottenham touted as a possible destination for the frustrated 28-year-old.
With Manchester United having pulled five points clear at the summit the previous day, nothing but a win would do for either side.
Yet with the stakes so high, chances were few and far between in a cagey first half which saw Liverpool carve out the better chances without causing any damage.
Alonso marked his return to the side by bringing a scrappy opening to life with a missile of a shot from 25-yard which Petr Cech was forced to turn over his bar in the 12th minute.
Chelsea struggled to create a noteworthy chance and they were fortunate to escape in the 18th minute when Cech spilled Javier Mascherano’s long range effort, but there was no red shirt following up.
Mascherano, who has been involved in a niggling battle with Michael Ballack, became the first player to enter referee Mike Riley’s notebook and he was quickly followed by Chelsea defender Ashley Cole during a bruising first half.
The temperature at sub-zero Anfield increased dramatically on the half hour mark as Torres, without a Premier League goal for four months, had a goal-bound effort blocked by Brazilian defender Alex inside the Chelsea area following a super cross by Jamie Carragher.
A tame header by John Terry was all Chelsea could offer in reply yet Liverpool lacked a killer instinct.
The deadlock was almost broken five minutes before half time when Cech, who was having a poor game, spilled another effort, this time from Albert Riera, and the ball cannoned off Cole just past the corner.
If Chelsea had trouble unlocking the Liverpool defence in the first half then their task was made twice as hard when they were reduced to 10 men in the 60th minute following Lampard’s crunching challenge on Alonso.
The England midfielder could have few complaints after leaving Alonso in a heap in the centre circle and his team a man short with half an hour to play.
Liverpool spent the final half an hour bombarding the Chelsea defence but to no avail.
The busy Alonso went close close with a stinging effort which deflected off Alex, who was outstanding in the visitors defence, and crashed against the bar.
And 11 minutes from time, Cech made amends for his first half spills with a belting save to thwart substitute Benayoun before Torres had the final say.
The Spanish striker was in the right place at the right time to nod Aurelio’s cross past Cech and give Liverpool the three points they craved.
Then deep into stoppage time, the Chelsea defence capitulated, Torres cementing the points after being teed-up by Benayoun following a mistake by Cole. – AFP/de
Channel News Asia
ZURICH: Manchester United and Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo was on Monday named FIFA World Footballer of the Year for 2008.
Ronaldo, who is also holder of the prestigious Ballon d’Or for the European Footballer of the Year, beat off competition from 2007 winner Kaka (Brazil), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Fernando Torres (Spain) and Xavi (Spain).
“It’s an overwhelming moment in my career and I’d like to dedicate this award to my family, friends and colleagues,” he said.
Ronaldo went out of his way to heap praise on United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, with whom relations became strained during last summer over whether he was going to leave the club for Real Madrid.
“It’s also true that the manager always has an important role to play,” said Ronaldo.
“It was a great season for me and for my club, and the coach was important for me because I learned a lot from him.
“His experience over so many years is of paramount importance – it’s a privilege to have such a great club manager.
“This is the climax of a fantastic era for me. I’m happy and proud about what has been done by my team and what we have won.
“I am lucky to be part of the history of a club like Manchester United.”
The 23-year-old, scorer of 42 goals in all competitions in the 2007-8 season, was one of United’s architects behind the club’s English Premiership and Champions League double.
It was not a perfectly scripted year for Ronaldo, however, as Portugal crashed out 3-2 to Germany in the quarter-final of Euro 2008 in June.
Ronaldo becomes the second Portuguese player to win the FIFA accolade after Luis Figo in 2001, and the first one playing for a British club.
He reaped 935 points in the vote in which the coaches and captains of 155 national teams took part. Messi finished second (678 points) and was trailed by Torres (203), Kaka (183) and Xavi (155).
Brazilian midfielder Marta was unveiled as FIFA World Women’s Footballer of the year for 2008, for the third year running.
Marta delivered an outstanding performance at the women’s Olympic football tournament in Beijing 2008, and equalled the record set by Birgit Prinz by claiming her third consecutive title.
For the women’s vote, 139 coaches and captains cast their vote and Marta won comfortably (1,002 points) ahead of Germany’s Prinz (328), Brazil’s Cristiane (275), Germany’s Nadine Angerer (198) and England’s Kelly Smith (150). – AFP/de
Channel News Asia
ZURICH: Manchester United and Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo was on Monday named FIFA World Footballer of the Year for 2008.
Ronaldo, who is also holder of the prestigious Ballon d’Or for the European Footballer of the Year, beat off competition from 2007 winner Kaka (Brazil), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Fernando Torres (Spain) and Xavi (Spain).
“It’s an overwhelming moment in my career and I’d like to dedicate this award to my family, friends and colleagues,” he said.
Ronaldo went out of his way to heap praise on United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, with whom relations became strained during last summer over whether he was going to leave the club for Real Madrid.
“It’s also true that the manager always has an important role to play,” said Ronaldo.
“It was a great season for me and for my club, and the coach was important for me because I learned a lot from him.
“His experience over so many years is of paramount importance – it’s a privilege to have such a great club manager.
“This is the climax of a fantastic era for me. I’m happy and proud about what has been done by my team and what we have won.
“I am lucky to be part of the history of a club like Manchester United.”
The 23-year-old, scorer of 42 goals in all competitions in the 2007-8 season, was one of United’s architects behind the club’s English Premiership and Champions League double.
It was not a perfectly scripted year for Ronaldo, however, as Portugal crashed out 3-2 to Germany in the quarter-final of Euro 2008 in June.
Ronaldo becomes the second Portuguese player to win the FIFA accolade after Luis Figo in 2001, and the first one playing for a British club.
He reaped 935 points in the vote in which the coaches and captains of 155 national teams took part. Messi finished second (678 points) and was trailed by Torres (203), Kaka (183) and Xavi (155).
Brazilian midfielder Marta was unveiled as FIFA World Women’s Footballer of the year for 2008, for the third year running.
Marta delivered an outstanding performance at the women’s Olympic football tournament in Beijing 2008, and equalled the record set by Birgit Prinz by claiming her third consecutive title.
For the women’s vote, 139 coaches and captains cast their vote and Marta won comfortably (1,002 points) ahead of Germany’s Prinz (328), Brazil’s Cristiane (275), Germany’s Nadine Angerer (198) and England’s Kelly Smith (150). – AFP/de
Channel News Asia
ZURICH: Manchester United and Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo was on Monday named FIFA World Footballer of the Year for 2008.
Ronaldo, who is also holder of the prestigious Ballon d’Or for the European Footballer of the Year, beat off competition from 2007 winner Kaka (Brazil), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Fernando Torres (Spain) and Xavi (Spain).
“It’s an overwhelming moment in my career and I’d like to dedicate this award to my family, friends and colleagues,” he said.
Ronaldo went out of his way to heap praise on United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, with whom relations became strained during last summer over whether he was going to leave the club for Real Madrid.
“It’s also true that the manager always has an important role to play,” said Ronaldo.
“It was a great season for me and for my club, and the coach was important for me because I learned a lot from him.
“His experience over so many years is of paramount importance – it’s a privilege to have such a great club manager.
“This is the climax of a fantastic era for me. I’m happy and proud about what has been done by my team and what we have won.
“I am lucky to be part of the history of a club like Manchester United.”
The 23-year-old, scorer of 42 goals in all competitions in the 2007-8 season, was one of United’s architects behind the club’s English Premiership and Champions League double.
It was not a perfectly scripted year for Ronaldo, however, as Portugal crashed out 3-2 to Germany in the quarter-final of Euro 2008 in June.
Ronaldo becomes the second Portuguese player to win the FIFA accolade after Luis Figo in 2001, and the first one playing for a British club.
He reaped 935 points in the vote in which the coaches and captains of 155 national teams took part. Messi finished second (678 points) and was trailed by Torres (203), Kaka (183) and Xavi (155).
Brazilian midfielder Marta was unveiled as FIFA World Women’s Footballer of the year for 2008, for the third year running.
Marta delivered an outstanding performance at the women’s Olympic football tournament in Beijing 2008, and equalled the record set by Birgit Prinz by claiming her third consecutive title.
For the women’s vote, 139 coaches and captains cast their vote and Marta won comfortably (1,002 points) ahead of Germany’s Prinz (328), Brazil’s Cristiane (275), Germany’s Nadine Angerer (198) and England’s Kelly Smith (150). – AFP/de
Channel News Asia
PRESTON, England – Steven Gerrard put his testing week behind him by leading Liverpool to a 2-0 FA Cup third round victory away to fellow north-west side Preston North End at Deepdale here Saturday.
Goals from Spanish duo Albert Riera and Fernando Torres secured a victory for the Premier League leaders against the second-tier team which was only sealed in stoppage-time.
Gerrard, 28, could have expected to sit out this third round tie in normal circumstances, but having been charged with assault over an alleged incident that took place in nearby Southport in the early hours of Monday morning, manager Rafael Benitez opted to select his captain from the start as “the best thing for him and for us is to focus on football.”
The England midfielder, due to appear at a magistrates’ court on January 23, has been told he has the full support of his club and he was likely to have welcomed the chance to have played against Alan Irvine’s Championship outfit.
Having been embarrassed in FA Cup shocks by Burnley and Barnsley in recent seasons, Benitez underlined his determination to avoid another upset by naming a formidable starting line-up for this game.
Only goalkeeper keeper Diego Cavalieri, in for Spain international Pepe Reina, could be considered as a fringe player.
Liverpool started slowly, though, and the home side, buoyed by a run of four successive home clean sheets, attempted to make an early breakthrough.
Scottish winger Ross Wallace forced Cavalieri into the first save of the game with a curling left-foot free-kick on five minutes, but the striker lacked the pace to worry the Brazilian shot-stopper.
Preston’s defence struggled to cope with the penetration of Liverpool widemen Ryan Babel and Riera created a golden chance for Robbie Keane after racing to the byline.
His cross was perfect for Keane to slot into the net from six yards, but the Ireland striker sliced his shot so much that it almost went out for a throw-in.
Gerrard then tested Preston keeper Andy Lonergan with a snapshot from 20 yards before Riera gave Liverpool the lead with a classy 25th minute strike.
A Gerrard shot was half-cleared by Preston and the ball dropped to Riera on the edge of the six-yard box.
Instead of shooting with his right foot, Riera cut back on to his left and headed away from goal before beating Lonergan with a powerful left-foot shot from 12 yards.
Liverpool would have had the game in the bag by half-time had Keane taken two clear chances before the interval, but the former Tottenham Hotspur star’s poor finishing gave Preston a lifeline.
Keane continued in a similar vein in the second-half, missing at the near post from Gerrard’s cross, before Lonergan denied the Liverpool skipper with a brilliant save from his long-range shot in the 59th minute.
And five minutes later, Preston believed they had equalised when Sean St Ledger headed in Richard Chaplow’s cross.
However, a foul by Jon Parkin on Jamie Carragher in the build-up led to the ‘goal’ being disallowed.
Benitez ended Torres’s six-week injury-enforced absence by putting him on in place of the misfiring Keane 18 minutes from time.
Torres’s first effort on goal flew wide from 25 yards but his second, a tap-in from Gerrard’s injury-time pass, made it 2-0.
-AFP /ls
Channel News Asia
PRESTON, England – Steven Gerrard put his testing week behind him by leading Liverpool to a 2-0 FA Cup third round victory away to fellow north-west side Preston North End at Deepdale here Saturday.
Goals from Spanish duo Albert Riera and Fernando Torres secured a victory for the Premier League leaders against the second-tier team which was only sealed in stoppage-time.
Gerrard, 28, could have expected to sit out this third round tie in normal circumstances, but having been charged with assault over an alleged incident that took place in nearby Southport in the early hours of Monday morning, manager Rafael Benitez opted to select his captain from the start as “the best thing for him and for us is to focus on football.”
The England midfielder, due to appear at a magistrates’ court on January 23, has been told he has the full support of his club and he was likely to have welcomed the chance to have played against Alan Irvine’s Championship outfit.
Having been embarrassed in FA Cup shocks by Burnley and Barnsley in recent seasons, Benitez underlined his determination to avoid another upset by naming a formidable starting line-up for this game.
Only goalkeeper keeper Diego Cavalieri, in for Spain international Pepe Reina, could be considered as a fringe player.
Liverpool started slowly, though, and the home side, buoyed by a run of four successive home clean sheets, attempted to make an early breakthrough.
Scottish winger Ross Wallace forced Cavalieri into the first save of the game with a curling left-foot free-kick on five minutes, but the striker lacked the pace to worry the Brazilian shot-stopper.
Preston’s defence struggled to cope with the penetration of Liverpool widemen Ryan Babel and Riera created a golden chance for Robbie Keane after racing to the byline.
His cross was perfect for Keane to slot into the net from six yards, but the Ireland striker sliced his shot so much that it almost went out for a throw-in.
Gerrard then tested Preston keeper Andy Lonergan with a snapshot from 20 yards before Riera gave Liverpool the lead with a classy 25th minute strike.
A Gerrard shot was half-cleared by Preston and the ball dropped to Riera on the edge of the six-yard box.
Instead of shooting with his right foot, Riera cut back on to his left and headed away from goal before beating Lonergan with a powerful left-foot shot from 12 yards.
Liverpool would have had the game in the bag by half-time had Keane taken two clear chances before the interval, but the former Tottenham Hotspur star’s poor finishing gave Preston a lifeline.
Keane continued in a similar vein in the second-half, missing at the near post from Gerrard’s cross, before Lonergan denied the Liverpool skipper with a brilliant save from his long-range shot in the 59th minute.
And five minutes later, Preston believed they had equalised when Sean St Ledger headed in Richard Chaplow’s cross.
However, a foul by Jon Parkin on Jamie Carragher in the build-up led to the ‘goal’ being disallowed.
Benitez ended Torres’s six-week injury-enforced absence by putting him on in place of the misfiring Keane 18 minutes from time.
Torres’s first effort on goal flew wide from 25 yards but his second, a tap-in from Gerrard’s injury-time pass, made it 2-0.
-AFP /ls
Channel News Asia
PRESTON, England – Steven Gerrard put his testing week behind him by leading Liverpool to a 2-0 FA Cup third round victory away to fellow north-west side Preston North End at Deepdale here Saturday.
Goals from Spanish duo Albert Riera and Fernando Torres secured a victory for the Premier League leaders against the second-tier team which was only sealed in stoppage-time.
Gerrard, 28, could have expected to sit out this third round tie in normal circumstances, but having been charged with assault over an alleged incident that took place in nearby Southport in the early hours of Monday morning, manager Rafael Benitez opted to select his captain from the start as “the best thing for him and for us is to focus on football.”
The England midfielder, due to appear at a magistrates’ court on January 23, has been told he has the full support of his club and he was likely to have welcomed the chance to have played against Alan Irvine’s Championship outfit.
Having been embarrassed in FA Cup shocks by Burnley and Barnsley in recent seasons, Benitez underlined his determination to avoid another upset by naming a formidable starting line-up for this game.
Only goalkeeper keeper Diego Cavalieri, in for Spain international Pepe Reina, could be considered as a fringe player.
Liverpool started slowly, though, and the home side, buoyed by a run of four successive home clean sheets, attempted to make an early breakthrough.
Scottish winger Ross Wallace forced Cavalieri into the first save of the game with a curling left-foot free-kick on five minutes, but the striker lacked the pace to worry the Brazilian shot-stopper.
Preston’s defence struggled to cope with the penetration of Liverpool widemen Ryan Babel and Riera created a golden chance for Robbie Keane after racing to the byline.
His cross was perfect for Keane to slot into the net from six yards, but the Ireland striker sliced his shot so much that it almost went out for a throw-in.
Gerrard then tested Preston keeper Andy Lonergan with a snapshot from 20 yards before Riera gave Liverpool the lead with a classy 25th minute strike.
A Gerrard shot was half-cleared by Preston and the ball dropped to Riera on the edge of the six-yard box.
Instead of shooting with his right foot, Riera cut back on to his left and headed away from goal before beating Lonergan with a powerful left-foot shot from 12 yards.
Liverpool would have had the game in the bag by half-time had Keane taken two clear chances before the interval, but the former Tottenham Hotspur star’s poor finishing gave Preston a lifeline.
Keane continued in a similar vein in the second-half, missing at the near post from Gerrard’s cross, before Lonergan denied the Liverpool skipper with a brilliant save from his long-range shot in the 59th minute.
And five minutes later, Preston believed they had equalised when Sean St Ledger headed in Richard Chaplow’s cross.
However, a foul by Jon Parkin on Jamie Carragher in the build-up led to the ‘goal’ being disallowed.
Benitez ended Torres’s six-week injury-enforced absence by putting him on in place of the misfiring Keane 18 minutes from time.
Torres’s first effort on goal flew wide from 25 yards but his second, a tap-in from Gerrard’s injury-time pass, made it 2-0.
-AFP /ls
Channel News Asia
My Soccer World 