With a cool finish into the far corner, Fernando Torres became the fastest Liverpool player ever to score 50 league goals. The game away to Aston Villa was goalless going into the 93rd minute, until up popped the Spaniard to drill a low shot past Brad Freidel. A new club record for the Spaniard and three very valuable points for the Reds. - Premier League Table -

The Spaniard played a role in Liverpool’s best move of the first-half. The striker cleverly teed up Steven Gerrard, but the skipper’s rasping shot was tipped over by Brad Friedel.

Stewart Downing could not believe his eyes on 30 minutes as Reina stuck out a right hand to divert his volley past the post. The Villa attacker’s shot from five yards out looked destined for the back of the net until the Red shotstopper pulled off a magnificent reflex save.

The Reds were looking to open their opponents through the middle, and although Gerrard, Aquilani and Torres were linking up well, Villa held firm. Fernando Torres out-jumped two defenders in the box but his looping header was straight at Friedel.

Both sides went in at the break having created very little in the way of goalmouth chances.

Following the restart the best opportunities fell the way of Martin O’Neill’s side as Reina had to produce an excellent save to keep the scores level. Aston Villa broke quickly down the left-hand side, but Agbonlahor’s shot from an acute angle was blocked by the Liverpool keeper.

The home side almost took the lead from the resulting corner. Carew was unmarked in the box, but fortunately for the Reds the Norwegian’s header flew inches past the post.

Babel was whiskers away from meeting a right-wing cross as the visitors turned their attentions to the wings after a frustrating evening through the middle.

Neither side looked happy with the draw as both Liverpool and Villa continued to search for a winner. Torres showed some great control on the right-hand touchline, jinking past two, but the striker was crowded out by the Villa defence.

There was still time however for one late piece of magic from Fernando Torres. A loose ball found its way to the Spaniard in the box, and the striker made no mistake, hitting a crisp right-footed shot past the despairing dive of the Villa keeper.

There was no time for a Villa fightback as the Reds ended 2009 with an important win against one of their rivals for a top-four finish. As for Torres, the forward grabbed his 12th league goal of the season and a place in Liverpool’s history books. His 50th league goal for the Merseysiders came in his 72nd appearance, beating the previous record by 8 games.


- Match Stats: Aston Villa 0-1 Liverpool

Aston Villa: Friedel, Luke Young, Cuellar, Dunne, Warnock, Reo-Coker (Marc Albrighton, 73), Milner, Petrov, Downing (Sidwell, 79), Agbonlahor, Carew.

Booked: Dunne

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson (Skrtel, 89) Carragher, Agger, Insua, Kuyt, Lucas, Aquilani (Babel, 77), Benayoun (Aurelio, 90+5), Gerrard, Torres

Booked: Lucas

Goals: Torres 90+3