Torres and Gerrard celebrate at Preston.
(Photo: Getty Images)
JANUARY 5
Torres return will boost Reds
By Al Campbell - LFC Online
Fernando Torres' return to fitness is a
huge boost says Jamie Carragher.
Torres made a goalscoring return as a subsitute against
Preston on Saturday following five weeks out with a
hamstring injury. Jamie Carragher believes the striker's
return will give everyone at the club a boost as they look
to maintain their position as Premiership leaders.
"Having Torres back has given everyone a big lift. It is
great when you see a player of that calibre coming back for
the second half of the season," said the vice-captain.
"Hopefully, the time he has been out will refresh him
because he had a long season with the Euros.
"A lot of players have played a lot of games this season
because the manager hasn't changed it around so much and it
will be good to have someone like him to come back in.
"It has been a feather in the cap for everyone concerned
with the club that we have reached the top of the table
without having the best striker in the world over the last
12 months for periods.
"You miss a player of that quality, but it will give us a
lift to have him out there."
JANUARY 5
Torres
glad to be back
Sky Sports
Liverpool striker Fernando Torres is
hoping his injury troubles are over after marking his
comeback with a goal.
Torres had been sidelined for six weeks with a hamstring
complaint, but came on as a substitute in Saturday's FA Cup
tie at Preston North End.
He tapped in Steven Gerrard's pass in injury-time to seal a
2-0 win in the third round and is happy to be back on the
pitch.
With Liverpool leading the Premier League, Torres is now
eager to play a full role in the club's bid to win the title
for the first time since 1990.
"Always it is frustrating when you are not playing and
missing games," Torres told the Liverpool Daily Post.
"You want to be out there helping your team-mates and
working hard, but the injury is in the past now.
"I have forgotten about it and I am only looking forward.
"I hope all my hamstring injuries are over and that I can
keep playing and scoring for Liverpool.
"The team has shown they can win without Stevie and without
me. That is very important. It shows that we play as a
team."
JANUARY 3
Gerrard
earns Lee praise
Sky Sports
Sammy Lee hailed Steven Gerrard as a
'model professional' following Liverpool's 2-0 victory over
Preston.
Gerrard was charged with assault and affray earlier this
week following an alleged nightclub incident.
But he was named in the starting line-up at Anfield and
turned in an impressive display as Liverpool booked their
place in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
Assistant manager Lee said: "Steven is a top professional,
he has had the full support of this club, and you see what
he is after that performance.
"He is a great footballer, he produced a terrific
performance. Things have been written about him, but we know
that he is a terrific professional, a model professional and
this club will put all our support behind Stevie Gerrard.
"But he is a great servant for this club, a great ambassador
and we will continue to support him throughout, he's a
terrific guy."
Preston boss Alan Irvine hoped his men would learn from
playing against the likes of Gerrard and Fernando Torres,
who came on as a substitute in the second half.
"People said they were disappointed that Steven Gerrard was
playing, and I suppose I was pleased initially to see
Fernando Torres on the bench," said Irvine.
"But then again our lads have been excited ever since the
draw, and that was because they wanted to play against
Liverpool's big stars.
"It has been an education for them. For Sean St Ledger to be
facing Torres was a great education for him.
"I knew Steven Gerrard would play well, he is fantastic, top
class, and I knew he would do that. I have very rarely seen
him do anything less than that."
JANUARY 3
Torres seals
Reds return with goal
By Ciaran Baynes - Setanta Sports
Robbie Keane missed a hatful of chances at
Preston, but the returning Fernando Torres netted in
Liverpool's 2-0 FA Cup win.
Albert Riera put Liverpool in front in the first half, a
period where Liverpool and returning captain Steven Gerrard
in particular, set Keane up with numerous clear-cut
opportunities that the £20 million man spurned.
After surviving some shaky moments, including a disallowed
Preston goal, Gerrard raced clear on the break in injury
time and instead of shooting himself squared the ball for
subsitute Torres to nudge home from close range in his first
game since November.
Keane's first gaffe came after 12 minutes when Riera got to
the by-line and pulled back to the Irish striker but from
six yards out he the shinned the ball well wide of goal.
Midway through the half, Liverpool did take the lead when
Riera picked up a ball on the by-line on the right wing and
then cut back inside two men before firing an arrow into the
roof of the Preston net past the unsighted Andy Lonergan.
The Preston keeper did not do Keane any favours when he made
himself big and parried away the Liverpool striker's
attempted lob after he had turned well in the area to set
himself up.
He had no one to blame for his next miss though when
Gerrard, who put his weeks' problems behind him with a
superb performance, crossing superbly from the left wing
only for Keane to sidefoot a woeful effort perpendicular to
the target.
Another Gerrard run and cross set up Keane with a chance to
make amends on the stroke of half time but the Irishman,
with no confidence, tried to square the ball to Riera whose
effort was quickly snuffed out.
Liverpool began the second period with a good chance as
Daniel Agger sent a free header wide from a corner.
Another fine Lonergan save denied a curling Gerrard effort
from 20 yards after which Preston got back into the game and
the home fans thought they had got back on level terms when
Sean St Leger headed home from close range.
Their joy proved short-lived as Jon Parkin was penalised for
an infringement as the striker, who was lying on the floor
with Jamie Carragher after the initial cross, pulled the
Liverpool defender back as he tried to rise to his feet to
clear the ball.
The decision was infuriating to the home fans but
undoubtedly the correct one.
Preston had half-chances as the game went on from Richard
Chaplow and Youl Mawene but could not trouble Diego
Cavalieri in the Liverpool goal.
As the Championship side sent everyone forward in search of
an equaliser, Gerrard and Torres raced forward unchallenged
in the fourth minute of injury time when the Reds skipper
allowed the Spaniard - who replaced Keane with 17 minutes
remaining - to get himself back in the scoring groove.
|
