Fernando Torres wants to write another chapter for his new autobiography covering a Liverpool title-winning season.
But after conceding two more sloppy goals at Upton Park, the Spanish striker admitted the Reds must first have another read of the old-school defensive manual.
Torres scored a magnificent double in a pulsating game which explains the worldwide popularity of the Premier League.
His opening salvo was a stunning individual effort, the second a perfect header at the end of flowing team move. The £26m forward, labelled “unstoppable” by West Ham centre-back James Tomkins, was the difference between two-attack minded teams.
But that gap should be greater for a club intent on winning the title. The enduring appeal of our top-flight is the helter-skelter nature of games and the frequent defensive shortcomings.
And Liverpool, who have now conceded nine goals in six matches without anchorman Xavi Alonso, again contributed fully to the non-stop entertainment at both ends.
The pace of West Ham winger Zavon Hines terrorised the visiting rearguard as the sluggish Jamie Carragher was robbed in possession before the 20-year-old hit the post and then brought him down for the penalty. The other members of the Big Four will have watched with interest.
Since losing two of three first three matches this season, Rafa Benitez’s side have responded by winning the next four on the bounce.
But Torres acknowledged the way to win titles is not the Harlem Globetrotter-style of scoring more than your opponents every week.
“We have to keep winning games which is the main thing but the next target is to keep more clean sheets,” he said.
“That will be good for the team and good for Pepe (Reina). We have to improve in defence and keep more clean sheets.”
Dirk Kuyt agreed. “I think the main problem for us was that we allowed them to come back in the game through our own mistakes,” said the Dutchman.
“That is something we have to be aware of for the next games.”
Yet this game provided the best 45 minutes of the season so far. After the dashing Hines spurned the first chance in the second minute, El Nino demonstrated the goalscorer’s art after 20 minutes by breezing past Tompkins and poking home a shot at the near post.
“My mind was to try to cross it as soon as possible because I was on my left foot,” Torres said.
“I was looking for a teammate but I didn’t see anyone so I just kept going and managed to score, which was nice for me but more important for the team.”
The lead only last nine minutes before Carragher attempted a shoulder nudge on Hines only to find the lightning West Ham winger was half a yard too quick and could only push him in the back.
Alessandro Diamanti converted from the spot. Liverpool regained the lead after when Kuyt got a touch to a Stevie Gerrard header but the Dutchman generously - and unusually for greedy strikers - wants the goal credited to his team-mate.
“I touched it but if it is possible I will give it to Steve,” he said. “It was a great header and I was there at the second post if the ball goes wide. If we can give it to Steve, I will be glad.”
In a day of giving away goals, Carlton Cole then rose above three Liverpool defenders to head home the second equaliser from a Mark Noble corner with again no player on the post.
After an hour, Benitez made a telling change when he replaced Kuyt with Ryan Babel. The Dutchman destroyed the tiring Herita Ilunga and floated over the 75th-minute cross for Torres to seal the three points.
“Maybe the second goal was my favourite,” said the Spaniard. “It’s a team game, not just individual play. A fantastic cross by Ryan Babel. It is easy for a striker when the cross is as good as that. It’s very pleasing to score two goals when the team work hard and the team win.
“We have not the best start of the season but we are in a good moment now. It’s four consecutive games of winning in a row, so we have to think that we can get more points and move forward because we have the Chelsea game coming soon. I hope there will be many more goals.”
Even on a day when the District Line was closed causing transport chaos, the longest queue of the evening was to praise Torres.
England Under-21 defender Tomkins said: “I played against him last year and when he is on top of his game, he is the best striker in the world. As a defender you know that and being young myself, I don’t think it gets any tougher than that. When he is on his game, he is unstoppable.
“He is clever with the runs that he makes. He is not just good technically; he is good in the air and strong as well. He has got all the attributes of a top striker.”
Kuyt said: “He is a great player. Some people were talking about him not scoring for a few games but he is one of the best strikers every week even if he doesn’t score.”
Reina added: “His first goal was unbelievable goal - out of this world. But it is no surprise to us - that is what he can do.”
Benitez, who has seen his compatriot score five goals in the last six games, warned his 25-year-old can only get better.
“It is too early to talk about him winning the Golden Boot this season, he has to keep playing at this level and we will see what happens,” he said.
“He clearly has pace and mobility and he can use these things. He has to improve some things but I am not going to say what they are.
“Our Spanish players were in the Confederations Cup and the other players were training for 19 days before they came back to train with us late.
“We had to be careful with them and Torres was the top scorer and we were pushing him a bit but now, with all the prevention work with the physios, we are taking care of him.”
But after conceding two more sloppy goals at Upton Park, the Spanish striker admitted the Reds must first have another read of the old-school defensive manual.
Torres scored a magnificent double in a pulsating game which explains the worldwide popularity of the Premier League.
His opening salvo was a stunning individual effort, the second a perfect header at the end of flowing team move. The £26m forward, labelled “unstoppable” by West Ham centre-back James Tomkins, was the difference between two-attack minded teams.
But that gap should be greater for a club intent on winning the title. The enduring appeal of our top-flight is the helter-skelter nature of games and the frequent defensive shortcomings.
And Liverpool, who have now conceded nine goals in six matches without anchorman Xavi Alonso, again contributed fully to the non-stop entertainment at both ends.
The pace of West Ham winger Zavon Hines terrorised the visiting rearguard as the sluggish Jamie Carragher was robbed in possession before the 20-year-old hit the post and then brought him down for the penalty. The other members of the Big Four will have watched with interest.
Since losing two of three first three matches this season, Rafa Benitez’s side have responded by winning the next four on the bounce.
But Torres acknowledged the way to win titles is not the Harlem Globetrotter-style of scoring more than your opponents every week.
“We have to keep winning games which is the main thing but the next target is to keep more clean sheets,” he said.
“That will be good for the team and good for Pepe (Reina). We have to improve in defence and keep more clean sheets.”
Dirk Kuyt agreed. “I think the main problem for us was that we allowed them to come back in the game through our own mistakes,” said the Dutchman.
“That is something we have to be aware of for the next games.”
Yet this game provided the best 45 minutes of the season so far. After the dashing Hines spurned the first chance in the second minute, El Nino demonstrated the goalscorer’s art after 20 minutes by breezing past Tompkins and poking home a shot at the near post.
“My mind was to try to cross it as soon as possible because I was on my left foot,” Torres said.
“I was looking for a teammate but I didn’t see anyone so I just kept going and managed to score, which was nice for me but more important for the team.”
The lead only last nine minutes before Carragher attempted a shoulder nudge on Hines only to find the lightning West Ham winger was half a yard too quick and could only push him in the back.
Alessandro Diamanti converted from the spot. Liverpool regained the lead after when Kuyt got a touch to a Stevie Gerrard header but the Dutchman generously - and unusually for greedy strikers - wants the goal credited to his team-mate.
“I touched it but if it is possible I will give it to Steve,” he said. “It was a great header and I was there at the second post if the ball goes wide. If we can give it to Steve, I will be glad.”
In a day of giving away goals, Carlton Cole then rose above three Liverpool defenders to head home the second equaliser from a Mark Noble corner with again no player on the post.
After an hour, Benitez made a telling change when he replaced Kuyt with Ryan Babel. The Dutchman destroyed the tiring Herita Ilunga and floated over the 75th-minute cross for Torres to seal the three points.
“Maybe the second goal was my favourite,” said the Spaniard. “It’s a team game, not just individual play. A fantastic cross by Ryan Babel. It is easy for a striker when the cross is as good as that. It’s very pleasing to score two goals when the team work hard and the team win.
“We have not the best start of the season but we are in a good moment now. It’s four consecutive games of winning in a row, so we have to think that we can get more points and move forward because we have the Chelsea game coming soon. I hope there will be many more goals.”
Even on a day when the District Line was closed causing transport chaos, the longest queue of the evening was to praise Torres.
England Under-21 defender Tomkins said: “I played against him last year and when he is on top of his game, he is the best striker in the world. As a defender you know that and being young myself, I don’t think it gets any tougher than that. When he is on his game, he is unstoppable.
“He is clever with the runs that he makes. He is not just good technically; he is good in the air and strong as well. He has got all the attributes of a top striker.”
Kuyt said: “He is a great player. Some people were talking about him not scoring for a few games but he is one of the best strikers every week even if he doesn’t score.”
Reina added: “His first goal was unbelievable goal - out of this world. But it is no surprise to us - that is what he can do.”
Benitez, who has seen his compatriot score five goals in the last six games, warned his 25-year-old can only get better.
“It is too early to talk about him winning the Golden Boot this season, he has to keep playing at this level and we will see what happens,” he said.
“He clearly has pace and mobility and he can use these things. He has to improve some things but I am not going to say what they are.
“Our Spanish players were in the Confederations Cup and the other players were training for 19 days before they came back to train with us late.
“We had to be careful with them and Torres was the top scorer and we were pushing him a bit but now, with all the prevention work with the physios, we are taking care of him.”
No comments:
Post a Comment