The injury picked-up by Fernando Torres in Reds’ 1-0 win over Marseille in the Champions Laeague clash has been confirmed as “strain in his right hamstring”. Liverpool spokesman stated that, “Fernando has a strain in his right hamstring and will be out of action for between two and three weeks.”
Fernando Torres started for Liverpool playing the full 90 minutes as the Reds only managed a 0-0 draw versus Fulham. Liverpool applied pressure from the kick-off as Mark Schwarzer had to be alert to block an early effort from Dirk Kuyt. Leiva then tried his luck from range, but Fulham withheld the early Red onslaught.
At the other end, Reina was tested by Johnson before Keane had a great chance to give his side the lead. A ball from Kuyt found the Irishman in the box, but the forward’s close-range effort struck Schwarzer before going behind for a corner.
Jimmy Bullard almost gave the Londoners a shock lead with a right-footed shot from outside the box, but his effort was brilliantly saved by Pepe Reina.
Torres let fly from 25 yards but his drive bounced favourably for the Fulham keeper who made a comfortable save to keep the scores level as both teams went in at the break 0-0.
It was all Liverpool in the second-half as Reina had very little to do in the Red goal. Torres cutting in from the left was first to try his luck with a right-footed effort that curled just wide of the far post.
The home team continued to dominate against a team looking for their first away league win of the year. A series of corners failed to find Liverpool the breakthrough as Roy Hodgson’s side held firm.
Alonso blasted high and wide from the edge of the box, as Leiva had a goal-bound shot strike a Fulham defender before going behind.
The final seconds were eaten away as the Cottagers made a final substitution. All in all, a frustrating afternoon for the Reds who dominated through the match from start to finish but failed to find a way through Schwarzer in the Fulham goal.
- Match Stats: Liverpool 0-0 Fulham
Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Agger, Aurelio, Kuyt (El Zhar, 81), Lucas, Mascherano (Alonso, 64), Riera (Babel, 78), Keane, Torres
Fulham: Schwarzer, Pantsil, Hughes, Hangeland, Konchesky, Dempsey (Gera, 84), Bullard (Baird, 90), Murphy, Davies, Johnson, Zamora
Rafael Benitez kept Fernando Torres on the bench until the 59th minute as Liverpool defeated Bolton at the Reebok Stadium. Goals from Dirk Kuyt and Steve Gerrard, following a great assist from Torres, gave the Reds all three points. Following a lively start from Bolton, Liverpool enjoyed a period of possession with Dirk Kuyt testing the home goalkeeper from range, before later striking the crossbar from inside the box with a right-footed effort.
The Reds finally broke the deadlock just before the half hour mark as Kuyt crashed a header past Jaaskelainen. The Dutch striker met a Fabio Aurelio cross to leave the Trotters’ keeper little chance.
Liverpool should have made it 2-0 minutes later, but Robbie Keane failed to get a touch on a cross a yard out from goal. The chance was the last opportunity of a comfortable first-half for Rafa Benitez’ men.
The home side had a Cahill goal ruled-out on the stroke of half-time following a foul by Nolan on Reina.
Bolton Wanderers started the second-half on top, laying siege to Pepe Reina’s goal. Kevin Davies played Ricardo Gardner through for the Trotters’ best chance of the game, but the striker slipped just as he tried to place the ball past the Liverpool keeper.
Fifteen minutes into the second-half, Fernando Torres was brought on for Robbie Keane; and the Spaniard was soon in on the action. The forward hastled the Bolton defenders, before creating Liverpool’s second of the afternoon with a great piece of skill
A brilliant cross from Fernando Torres, using the outside of his right foot, was headed into the Bolton goal by Steven Gerrard. The home team could feel slightly unfortunate to have conceded a second goal following some good pressure.
Torres himself was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet as the forward struck the outside of the post with a snap-shot. The final action of the game was a close-range header form Lucas Leiva which whistled past the post.
- Match data:
Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Cahill, Andrew O'Brien, Samuel, Taylor (Smolarek, 84) Nolan, Muamba (Gardner, 46), McCann, Elmander, Davies
Booked: Nolan
Liverpool: Reina, Carragher, Hyypia, Agger, Aurelio, Alonso, Mascherano, Kuyt (Lucas Leiva, 84), Gerrard, Riera (Beanyoun, 88), Keane (Torres, 59)
Booked: Carragher
Goals: Kuyt 27, Gerrard 72
The Liverpool forward confirmed to the official LFC Magazine that he believes that recent signing Albert Riera will offer the Reds more attacking options. “He’s a different player to what we've had because he is a real winger. On the right we have Jermaine Pennant and now on the left we have Albert. He is capable of going on the outside or coming inside. He can dribble and cross - he is a complete player. He is really important to the team already.”
“Having him in the team should create more space for the other forwards because defenders need to watch Albert. That should help the rest of us get more opportunities. As a striker, it’s great to have someone who can cross the ball so well."
The forward, who has played a part in the Anfield club’s last two matches, is back in contention for Saturday’s clash versus Bolton, and no doubt the ‘Spanish’ Liverpool will be looking to collect all three points from their visit to the Reebok Stadium.
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