tas y we signed torres.
TORRES MAKES THE DIFFERENCE
Fernando Torres was the expensive difference for Liverpool as they claimed a critical victory over Fulham and maintained their unbeaten league record.
Anfield chief Rafael Benitez purred over the influence of his big-money signing saying: "That's what you get for the fee."
For Fulham boss Lawrie Sanchez similar sentiments came through gritted teeth as he saw the second chance in his career to cut Liverpool down to size swept from his grasp.
Back in 1988, it was Sanchez's header that gave little Wimbledon the FA Cup at Liverpool's expense, arguably the greatest cup final shock of modern times.
How the Dons gloated over that. The long-ball boys, then from south London, had destroyed England's most successful club.
This time around Sanchez's systems and style have barely changed, and Fulham sweated and toiled at Anfield to bring Liverpool within minutes of another setback.
Had the hosts not won this one, the critics would have been written off their title dreams - and they would have been right.
But £20million Torres arrived from the bench to change all that. He scored a sublime goal of quality, movement, touch and clever finishing.
Benitez was also able to throw on Ryan Babel, £11million, and Lucas, £5million, in that dramatic conclusion and Sanchez and his men could not cope.
Sanchez then, surprisingly, claimed Torres' goal was mishit and a soft effort. He also, rightly, insisted that the blatant trip on Peter Crouch that produced Steven Gerrard's even later penalty, was outside the box.
Then Sanchez really revealed his inner-most feelings, with a half-joke that only he failed to laugh at.
Sanchez said: "It wasn't working for them. That is why they brought on three substitutes. One at £25m, one at £11m and one at £5m. There should be cap on the price of players you can bring on, maybe no more than £20m of players.
"Liverpool brought a bit of talent off the bench and it changed the game. I actually felt that Torres mis-hit his final shot, it was a soft goal to concede.
"As for the penalty, it wasn't in the box, it wasn't a penalty."
TV replays showed Sanchez was right about that, but Crouch felt it was so blatant that morally Liverpool deserved the spot-kick.
He said: "When Fernando came on he gave us something a little bit different. The penalty was borderline but I was almost through on goal, so it is a goalscoring chance."
As for Sanchez's comments on Torres, even if he got the fee a touch wrong, the more you see the goal to more outstanding it is.
Liverpool even used the long-ball game that has been an integral part of Sanchez's career as a player and manager at club and international level.
Torres took a 60-yard Jose Reina punt out of the air in one sweet movement of his chest, controlled it perfectly with his next touch and then cut Fulham open with pace, movement and a deft touch inside the near post. Soft it was not.
But maybe seeing Liverpool use the long-ball art so well, grated just a little on Sanchez, plus the fact that Benitez has riches Sanchez can only dream of.
Benitez said: "With Torres' quality, and Babel the same, that was the difference.
"I have the problem of leaving top players in the stand or putting them on the bench. But it is a good problem, Fernando came on and scored a fine goal.
"But Fernando's job is to score goals, I only said 'well done' to the whole team, they are all the same."
And Benitez revealed also that he had delayed Torres' return from a second adductor muscle injury because he did not really believe the striker's claims that he was fully fit.
Torres broke down in his original comeback against Arsenal, and now Benitez clearly thinks twice when he is assured everything is fine!
He said: "Fernando was OK to play. But I needed to be sure. For the Arsenal game, after he had been out for some weeks, he said to me that he was fully fit, he wasn't. Very soon into the game that was clear.
"Then in midweek against Besiktas he again assured me he was fit. But I was not sure.
"He said he was 100 per cent ready but I did not believe that. This time I watched him train and I knew he was fit."
And Benitez, after his 200th game in charge, added: "If we want to be contenders, we must win many games in a row. Fernando's goal was very good, real quality. But when we signed him we knew he can do things like this.
"Goals like that are what you pay big money for, it was great quality and showed tremendous skill. It is what you expect from a player of his value."
and there u go, svenny goes for the worst. maybe he can transform paul robinson with that john burridge( i think he's crap and show off) as some gk coach. it'll be something interesting.
