EPL, Premiership, English Premier League

Fernando Torres has once again demonstrated his ability as a striker as Liverpool played Manchester City. Torres had obtained a goal in 15 of the past 17 games with 32 goals in all competitions combined. He has also scored in the 8 consecutive home games equaling a home record. He ran past 2 City defenders and sprinted on diagonally across the box to score with a hard drive.

Benitez made 5 starting lineup changes with Xabi Alonso, Martin Skrtel, Yossi Benayoun, Alvaro Arbeloa and John Arne Riise coming out from the Champions League came game Wednesday and Steve Finnan, Lucas, Sami Hyypia, Ryan Babel and youngster Emiliano coming in. Despite the starting variability between the games Peter Crouch was not played, nor did he make the bench. It makes one wonder if Benitez is almost encouraging him to leave. While Liverpool had little to win from the game except pride, Manchester City fans and players have (from all accounts) been behind their Swedish manager Sven-Goran Eriksson (who has recently been informed by City owner Thaksin Shinawatra that he will be sacked at the end of the season). While Manchester City was in 3rd place in November, they have now fallen to 9th place.

“The support for me was fantastic, of course it is. It makes me stand up from the bench a lot but I can do that, no problem. It was fantastic, of course I am thankful. They have been fantastic all season, incredible. Maybe it will not affect things, I don’t know. But we have one week to go until the season is finished. But I would appreciate it if people would accept that we will start talking after that. We will not be talking tomorrow, more so next month.” said Eriksson.