Torres leads Liverpool to victory

Mar 16, 2010 - 12:36 AM By MARK HENDRY STATS European Football Writer=

LONDON (SE) - Alberto Aquilani's first goal in a Liverpool shirt and Fernando Torres inspired the Reds to a convincing 4-1 victory over bottom club Portsmouth and keep up the heat on fourth-placed Tottenham.

Aquilani produced a man-of-the match display to lead Liverpool to glory and finally show reason why Rafa Benitez parted with 20 million pounds last summer, albeit against a poor Pompey side.

Torres struck a brace to add to Ryan Babel's first-half goal but Liverpool were also fortunate not to lose captain Steven Gerrard to a red card after a forearm smash on Michael Brown which the midfielder may still be retrospectively punished for.

Liverpool, who conceded a late consolation to Nadir Belhadj, are now one point behind Tottenham in the final Champions League qualification spot.

Benitez said: "It was a good game, we played well for the fans and scored some goals.

"It was really good for Alberto as he will have more confidence and we had a lot of good performances from all the team.

"We played well and the players enjoyed playing some good football. Torres is a key player for us because not only he scores goals but he creates space for others.

"Today is a day to enjoy and for me the main thing is the team and the best way to help the club is by winning games."

Benitez elected to make two changes from the side that lost in the Europa League last week to Lille with Aquilani making only his fifth Premier League start of the season at the expense of Lucas and Maxi replacing Dirk Kuyt.

The home side struggled to find momentum in the opening stages with Pompey's mission of containment working well, stifling the Reds passing game until goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown's howler handed them an opener.

Ashdown, deputising for England international David James who suffered a reoccurrence of a calf injury, fluffed a clearance straight to team-mate Ricardo Rocha.

The Portuguese defender played a back-pass back to his goalkeeper but Ashdown's kick once more was poorly struck and charged down by Gerrard, allowing Maxi to square to Torres.

Within six minutes Liverpool were home and dry as they delivered two more knockout punches to shell-shocked Pompey.

Torres darted down the left flank before teeing up Babel, who delivered a fine finish and moments later Aquilani was celebrating his first Reds goal.

The Italian midfielder seized upon a pass from Torres to place a shot past Ashdown and leave Portsmouth out of the game.

With the three-nil deficit secure Liverpool somewhat took their foot off the gas and Benitez was able to withdraw Gerrard, Glen Johnson and eventually Torres but not before the Spaniard claimed his second of the match.

Torres was afforded too much space by the static away defence and he dispatched his finish from 20 yards with consummate ease.

Gerrard was subbed almost immediately after a flashpoint where the midfielder reacted angrily to Brown's attentions as he burst through the centre of the park, striking the Portsmouth man in an incident referee Stuart Attwell failed to notice.

Portsmouth battled manfully on and were rewarded for their sweat as Belhadj salvaged some pride two minutes from the end.

The Algeria international found room in the Liverpool area to latch onto Frederic Piquionne's pull-back and score.

Portsmouth boss Avram Grant, whose side are eight points adrift from safety and with the prospect of a nine point penalty for entering administration, said: "It was not a good display, we had to change the team a bit and we did not play well.

"Liverpool are a good team with good players and we caught them on a day when they were in a good mood.

"I refuse to give up until we are relegated. I believe in this team and the players believe in me."