Torres’ double tears leaders Chelsea apart
Torres had scored just twice this season before Chelsea’s visit to Anfield, fuelling talk that his lacklustre displays were a sign he is keen to leave the Reds. But the Spaniard was back to his predatory best as he netted with a cool finish from Dirk Kuyt’s pass in the 11th minute and then curled a brilliant second past Petr Cech from the edge of the penalty area just before half-time.
Those two lethal finishes condemned Chelsea to their second league defeat this season and left Carlo Ancelotti’s league leaders just two points ahead of second-placed Manchester United.
Arsenal suffer shock defeat
Newcastle’s Andy Carroll finally made headlines for the right reasons as the striker gave the Magpies a shock 1-0 victory over Arsenal.
Carroll, who along with teammate Kevin Nolan, had been the subject of lurid newspaper allegations about his private life hours before kick-off, netted the winner when he rose superbly to beat Arsenal keeper Lukasz Fabianski to Joey Barton’s free-kick moments before the interval. That was enough to ensure Newcastle a third successive league victory, while Arsenal’s title challenge was dented by their third defeat of the season.
Pressure off Man City
Mario Balotelli eased the pressure on Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini by scoring twice before being sent off in the 2-0 win against West Bromwich Albion.
Balotelli netted twice in six minutes in the first half at The Hawthorns before he made a rapid transformation from hero to villain with a straight red. City had lost their last three matches but were more menacing thanks to the return of Carlos Tevez as his cross allowed Balotelli to bundle the ball over the line in the 20th minute.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 9th, 2010.
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