Fernando Gets His Knickers In A Twist

Fernando Torres, who I think looks better in a dress personally, has warned Manchester United "You're Next" !!! It's good to see that he keeps a close eye on the fixture list and is aware of his next opponents.

The Liverpool ladyman scored the first goal as Rafa Benitez's side blasted into the quarter-finals of the Champions League last night. With confidence sky high at Anfield, Liverpool travel to Manchester United on Saturday where they will meet a team of a slightly higher calibre than that which I saw them play last night. In fact, Real Madrid were dreadful. Little wonder tehy have never managed to limp past the last 16 of the CL for the past 5 years..

Torres added: "We now have the belief for Saturday against United. That is a massive game. I hope to win that and have more chances in the league. We know it's very important to win there - if not they will be many points ahead. I am very proud. I am proud at the performance of the team and the performance of the fans. We knew the atmosphere would be amazing but it was even better than we thought. This was a big night for Liverpool and for English football as well. We showed Real Madrid that this is Anfield and that Liverpool can win against any team here. It was a fantastic performance. After the first goal they knew it would be difficult because they had to score two. The penalty finished the game."

"The plan before the game was to play with intensity and with a high-tempo. Spanish football has quality but it is slower, so we knew it would be difficult for them if we played with intensity. I think we prepared the game better than them. The boss was brilliant in explaining how to play against them."......Back To Home Page...

Torres Lifts Liverpool Ahead Of Manchester United, For Now

The Ladyboy saved Rafa's blushes as he came off the bench with 15 minutes left in this encounter to score a late, late winner for The Bindippers against Portsmouth and keep Liverpool's title challenge alive by sending them to the top of the Premier League table, ahead of Manchester United who visit West Ham on Sunday.

Liverpool found themselves behind again thanks to a Hermann Hreidarsson header but Torres set up Dirk Kuyt before heading home in stoppage-time to breathe life back into Liverpool. It proved to be a masterstroke for Rafael Benitez to leave Torres on the bench - but it was the closest of calls.

Torres was tired towards the end of the midweek FA Cup defeat to Everton bless him, and has international duty this week when Spain face England — but he was still fit enough to be among the substitutes at Fratton Park. His cameo appearance has put the psychological pressure on Manchester United as Liverpool overtake Alex Ferguson’s men at the summit before their match against Gianfranco Zola's side.....Back To Home Page...

Mido Piles More Pain On Rafa As Manchester United Stay Top

Rafael Benitez again chose to leave out Robbie Keane and Liverpool duly went on to blow their chance of joining Manchester United at the summit of the Premier League.

The Dubliner was only introduced after Mido had cancelled out Yossi Benayoun's opener, remarkably replacing Steven Gerrard almost 20 minutes after Benitez had withdrawn the exhausted Fernando Torres. The logic behind this substitution was completely beyond me. Gerrard is the only player at Liverpool who shows a modicum of continuity and in the past he has single handedly saved Liverpool from some rather dodgy results. So what does Rafa do, he takes him off. Amazing!

Both Albert Riera and Dirk Kuyt were preferred as substitutes to the £20m signing from Tottenham as Liverpool sought without success to build on their lead. Instead, debutant Mido equalised from the penalty spot with eight minutes left. It leaves Liverpool two points adrift of United, treading water in the title race and Keane's future open to question.

Benitez insists he wants to keep the player but, with the feeling at Anfield that he will not play if Gerrard and Torres are fit, he will no doubt be wondering what point there is in staying if he is not even the Spaniard's natural replacement.....it's all going tits up for The Pool, as I forecast it would several months ago.....Back To Home Page...