With a record breaking eight-nil victory on their backs, Rafael Benitez decided to leave the same starting eleven to face Fulham for the first time in thirteen months, the last time being in the match following the 3-1 over the then unbeaten and high-flying Aston Villa. Having achieved such feat, the wind was certainly felt blowing through Liverpool’s sails, and the modest side of Fulham could only provide mild seas to navigate through, especially at the homely environment of Anfield.

With such wind blowing as much as it could, Liverpool could not steer themselves in line for the three points. The first forty-five minutes weren’t anything in particular to shout about and it was only in the added minute when the reds really threatened to score. A floated free-kick by Fabio Aurelio was met by a Peter Crouch header that only the crossbar prevented from nestling in the net.

The second forty-five minutes saw an improved Liverpool side that while not attacking Fulham incessantly it was doing so on a consistent basis. As the clock was winding down though the euphoria of last Tuesday was fastly ebbing away and the Liverpool got more into the conscious mode of being unable to win at home. A feeling of deja-vu was enveloping Anfield as the fifth draw and the third scoreless draw was on the cards.

But then with twenty minutes to go Fernando Torres entered the scene. The whole scenario was changed, as from a frustrating one, the match turned into a fulfilling one. Liverpool were creating a momentum but it was Torres, who like a seasoned skipper steered Liverpool’s ship on course for the three points. And he did it with class and aplomb. Pepe Reina long kicked the ball. Torres coolly chested to his right while surrounded by two defenders, then cut inside their penalty area and coolly poked the ball between his marker’s legs and between Atti Niemi and the post. A touch of genius that earned Liverpool the extra two points. Lawrie Sanchez called the goal ‘soft’, and true, after such a goal you could have knocked most reds with a soft feather.

Five minutes later, Crouch won a penalty kick after receiving a pass from Babel who was another substitute who left a positive mark on the game. Steven Gerrard duly converted to his right while sending Niemi the opposite way.

The much needed and talked about three points at Anfield finally arrived, after being longed for since September. Torres seems to have also put his injury woes behind him and reminded us that the difference between one and three points a lot of times depends on him, a responsibility I am positively sure he can carry on his shoulders and then shrug while opening his arms to celebrate another goal.