Anfield's new £25million golden boy Fernando Torres left Liverpool fans dreaming of their first league title since 1990 with two goals in a 6-0 destruction of Derby County at Anfield.
After three seasons specialising in cup competitions, manager Rafa Benitez went to the top of the Premier League for the first time in his Liverpool career and claimed the club now has the strike-force to challenge Manchester Untied and Chelsea for the title.
"We know we have four strikers with the quality and skills to score goals," said Benitez. "It doesn't matter which one scores the most because we want them all to get goals.
"I was pleased to see Torres score two goals and for Andriy Voronin as well. I was waiting for Dirk Kuyt to score his first goal. It was a pity because he worked hard."
Expectations at Anfield reached fever pitch after Xabi Alonso (two), Torres (two), Ryan Babel and Voronin scored against a Derby side rooted to the bottom. It is the first time in five years Liverpool have been top of the table, although Benitez is aware they could lose that lead today when Chelsea play at Aston Villa.
"I am pleased to see us top for now but it is more important that we keep the right mentality in the team," he said.
Torres scored his first goals at Liverpool's famous Kop end after showing fantastic acceleration on both occasions.
It marked a good end to a troubled week for Benitez, who fell out with long-time friend and assistant manager Pako Ayesteran, who has now quit Anfield.
Captain Steve Gerrard watched yesterday's win from the stands and Benitez appealed to England not to risk his midfielder's fractured toe in the Euro 2008 qualifiers against Israel next weekend and Russia the following Wednesday.
Gerrard will join up with the squad before the first match at Wembley on Saturday but Benitez last night again warned the England medical staff: "We did not want to take any risk for Steven against Derby and I think they must not take any risk with England.
"The doctors will decide if he is available or not, but we think it will be the same for the national team as it is for us."
After three seasons specialising in cup competitions, manager Rafa Benitez went to the top of the Premier League for the first time in his Liverpool career and claimed the club now has the strike-force to challenge Manchester Untied and Chelsea for the title.
"We know we have four strikers with the quality and skills to score goals," said Benitez. "It doesn't matter which one scores the most because we want them all to get goals.
"I was pleased to see Torres score two goals and for Andriy Voronin as well. I was waiting for Dirk Kuyt to score his first goal. It was a pity because he worked hard."
Expectations at Anfield reached fever pitch after Xabi Alonso (two), Torres (two), Ryan Babel and Voronin scored against a Derby side rooted to the bottom. It is the first time in five years Liverpool have been top of the table, although Benitez is aware they could lose that lead today when Chelsea play at Aston Villa.
"I am pleased to see us top for now but it is more important that we keep the right mentality in the team," he said.
Torres scored his first goals at Liverpool's famous Kop end after showing fantastic acceleration on both occasions.
It marked a good end to a troubled week for Benitez, who fell out with long-time friend and assistant manager Pako Ayesteran, who has now quit Anfield.
Captain Steve Gerrard watched yesterday's win from the stands and Benitez appealed to England not to risk his midfielder's fractured toe in the Euro 2008 qualifiers against Israel next weekend and Russia the following Wednesday.
Gerrard will join up with the squad before the first match at Wembley on Saturday but Benitez last night again warned the England medical staff: "We did not want to take any risk for Steven against Derby and I think they must not take any risk with England.
"The doctors will decide if he is available or not, but we think it will be the same for the national team as it is for us."
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utusanlfc : when we first saw his run-to-the-goal in the Chelsea game, we can feel instantly what Torres can really do. Now that kind of feelings has been absent for quite sometimes. I don't remember if its the same with when we had Owen. Definitely not when we had Cisse. His finishing is rubbish. Morientes? hmm.... don't have that running ability... though he can be deemed as running back to spain for that matter! Crouch? oh my God... that's why I find it a little bit difficult to see our ``new'' style of play... short-quick-passes! With Crouch... it has to be long balls and hopefully, one of the receiver will shoot to goal. Bellamy? hmmm... let him be a success in West Ham. Never like him in the 1st place. Always a mystery when Rafa wanted him so much. Last season we got Kuyt. The way he plays, we must appreciate his hard workings. As I stated before, his work rate can easily be seen in our 1st game against Villa. If its not for him, who still go for a seemingly lost cause... we might settled only for a draw or worst... losing the match. So now, having Kuyt, Crouch, Torres and Voronin (for a man built like a russian-mafia, he is damned fast and could shoot like a kalashnikov...!), OF COURSE WE AS THE FANS ARE BUZZING NOW.
The confidence is stronger though yesteryears experience always taught us not to be day-dreaming and hoping too much at this early stages. But mind you... the feeling is OH SO GOOD! hihihi....
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