Fernando Torres left the pitch to an ovation from both sets of fans after putting on an excellent display against Portsmouth in the Monday night Premier League fixture. Two goals from the Kid, and a hand in Liverpool’s two other strikes propelled the Reds to a 4-1 victory. - Premier League Table -

The Anfield club started the first-half in a lively fashion, and in the 3rd minute Torres had a goalbound shot charged down in the Pompey box. The striker appealed for penalty and the replay confirmed that the Spaniard’s effort had struck Ricardo Rocha’s outstretched arm.

The home side continued to pour forward but Portsmouth managed to survive Liverpool’s onslaught. The visitors reached the half-way point of the first-half with the scores still level, but an explosive six minutes from the Reds were to seal all three points by the break.

Torres grabbed the first of the evening after the Portsmouth keeper had a clearance charged down by Steven Gerrard. The ball fell to Maxi who squared for the Liverpool number ‘9’ to tap over the line.

Barley two minutes later the Merseysiders were two goals up. Fernando Torres turned from scorer to provider as he unselfishly fed Ryan Babel in the box for the Dutchman to score.

The ‘Niño’ was again at the centre of the Red’s third goal. A clever back-heel from the striker found Aquilani, and the Italian fired home his first goal for the club, beating Ashdown with a right-foot shot.

Fernando Torres came whiskers away from adding a fourth as the Spaniard rattled the post with a fierce drive. The Pompey keeper was well beaten by the forward’s rasping shot.

Liverpool continued to dominate after the break as a shot-shy Portsmouth continued to lack an attacking presence.

Ashdown produced two excellent saves to deny Gerrard and Ryan Babel as the Reds looked to increase their winning margin in the knowledge that the fourth-spot could go down to goal difference.

Pepe Reina was called into action to save from Brown as Pompey tried to claw themselves back into the contest, but the next goal was going to have ‘Torres’ written all over it.

The club’s top scorer hit his second and Liverpool’s fourth with just under a quarter of an hour remaining. Aquilani found the Spaniard, who turned Ashdown with ease before firing into the net. There was no time for a hattrick as manager Rafa Benitez brought on Ngog for the Spaniard with ten minutes to go.

Portsmouth grabbed a late consolation goal as Belhadj stroked Piquionne’s cross-shot past Reina.

The win moves Liverpool up to fifth in the league, one point behind fourth-placed Spurs who have a game in hand.


- Match Stats: Liverpoool 4-1 Portsmouth

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson (Kelly, 70), Carragher, Agger, Insua, Aquilani, Mascherano, Maxi, Gerrard (Benayoun, 73) Babel, Torres (Ngog, 80)
Goals: Torres 26, 77, Babel 28, Aquilani 32

Portsmouth: Ashdown, Finnan, Wilson, Rocha, Hreidarsson (Owusu-Abeyie, 74), Brown, Diop (Mokoena, 63), O'Hara (Webber, 84), Dindane, Piquionne, Belhadj

Booked: Dindane, Mokoena

Goals: Belhadj 88