El Niño blows Villa away

FERNANDO TORRES has for so long kept Rafa Benitez’s reputation intact at Anfield and he came riding to the rescue of his countryman last night to prove the Spanish manager is writing cheques his team can cash at Anfield and that he may just be able to deliver on his guarantee of a top four finish this season.

Benitez’s words looked empty and hollow as Liverpool laboured until three minutes into stoppage time against one of the sides trying to usurp them and steal their top four place before Torres wrote his name into the Anfield history books with the fastest half-century of league goals on the red half of Merseyside – in just 72 league games – to lift his team to seventh in the Premier League and just two points adrift of Villa – who appear to be wobbling after successive defeats in three days.

Torres’ landmark came courtesy of the first real mistake Villa made all evening as they strived to end a Liverpool unbeaten run of 11 games on their turf. Stephen Warnock’s lapse in concentration was the crucial error which conceded possession and eventually gave Torres the opportunity to write himself into the record books ahead of Albert Stubbings and Sam Raybould and sentence Villa to their first home defeat since the opening day of the season.

Torres said: “We needed to win to be close to the top four. It was a massive game for us. Last season we kept working until the end and got points in extra time, like today.”

Benitez can rightly point to a gradual rehabilitation and their first victory over opponents in the top 10 in the Premier League and first back-to-back wins since September will only generate further confidence. O’Neill will have a major repair job on his hands to help his players regroup sufficiently to avoid the same kind of collapse they suffered last season.

Liverpool chased Manchester United so hard last season and gave Alex Ferguson genuine reason to fear their challenge for the first time since the inception of the Premier League. They did so largely because of the seemingly telepathic link between Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard. It has been a partnership denied to Benitez for large chunks of the current campaign and you do not have to be a genius to work out why they have already virtually conceded any title ambitions for another season.

Last night the Anfield skipper was glowing in his praise for his team-mate.

“You’ve got to keep going until the end and when you’ve got guys like (Torres) there’s always a chance,” said Gerrard. “When he’s on form he’s the best in the world.’’

Like Gerrard, Benitez was impressed by Torres’ contribution. “He’s a key player for us and his record is amazing,’’ he said.

Glen Johnson limped off, and Benitez added: “He’ll have to have a scan but maybe he’ll have a problem with his knee.”

Villa boss Martin O’Neill, whose side lost 3-0 to Arsenal in their first Christmas fixture, was left to curse their poor fortune.

“We definitely didn’t deserve that,” he said. “We should have had the game out of sight. Their keeper’s pulled of some unbelievable saves to keep them in it.”

In the first half Liverpool showed they still have invention, despite their troubled times this season, and a neatly rehearsed free-kick routine forced John Carew to block Gerrard’s shot from the edge of the area. Yet again, however, Alberto Aquilani failed to inspire and that will generate cause for concern.

It was not hard to have some sympathy with Benitez for the neglectful way Lee Probert waived away penalty claims eight minutes before half-time. Dirk Kuyt may well have overran the ball, but Richard Dunne’s thunderous challenge on the Dutch international involved no part of the matchball and both of Kuyt’s legs.

After their chastening experience at the Emirates on Sunday – their first defeat in eight league games and only 48 hours to try to rebuild damaged confidence, Villa wore an uncertain look for extended periods, punctured by moments of inspiration, such as James Milner’s corner that was met by Stewart Downing’s volley at the far post. Fortunately for Liverpool Reina had positioned himself perfectly and pushed the shot to safety.

Moments of concern for Reina were rare as Villa’s one-dimensional approach often broke down when they encountered Jamie Carragher. But in a foot race the Liverpool central defender was no match for the pace of Gabby Agbonlahor and only the striker’s tentative finish spared Liverpool further embarrassment in a season of red faces. The way Villa raised their game overpowered Liverpool in the final stages – despite playing 24 hours later than their opponents would have encouraged their manager, even more so if Carew had guided his header from Milner’s corner inside the far post instead of fractionally the wrong side. Inches such as that were the crucial difference and Torres made sure his finish was six inches inside the far post to punish Villa in the cruellest of circumstances.

ASTON VILLA: Freidel; Young, Cuellar, Dunne, Warnock; Milner, Reo-Coker (Albrighton 72), Petrov, Downing (Sidwell 79); Agbonlahor, Carew.

LIVERPOOL: Reina; Johnson, Agger, Carragher, Insua; Kuyt, Aquilani (Babel 77), Lucas, Benayoun; Gerrard; Torres.

Referee: Lee Probert