Liverpool 3-0 Lille

A DAY that began with the headlines dominated by one of Liverpool’s Spanish contingent ended with another assuming his usual position as centre stage.

Two goals from Fernando Torres completed a fine fightback as Liverpool overturned a first-leg deficit against Lille to book their place in the quarter-finals of the Europa League.

It was enough to earn the striker a standing ovation from guest of honour Diego Maradona on his substitution during injury time.

Manager Rafael Benitez had pinpointed this as a pivotal week. With two victories and seven goals in four days, it's a case of so far, so good for Liverpool, who will go to Old Trafford on Sunday in much better heart than a week ago.

It had taken the home side only nine minutes to wipe out Lille's 1-0 advantage from France last week, Steven Gerrard slotting home from the spot after Lucas Leiva was felled.

Torres struck a sublime first four minutes after the interval and, with nerves fraying and the visitors pressing for an away goal, eventually settled the tie in the final minute with his fourth goal in as many days.

All 22 players who began the first leg in the Stade Lille-Metropole seven days earlier were again named in the starting line-up.

It meant Alberto Aquilani was unable to build on his man-of-the-match performance against Portsmouth on Monday, the Italian still suffering from the effects of a virus.

Aquilani's inclusion at the expense of Lucas in central midfield was pinpointed as a prime reason by many for Liverpool's greater creative flair in racking up four goals for the first time since September.

Lucas has been a conveniently easy target for the critics this season, often for the temerity of not being Xabi Alonso, but the Brazilian will have felt he had a point to prove on his recall last night.

And he didn't waste any time making an impression. Only eight minutes had gone when Lucas raced on to an Emiliano Insua pass, charged into the penalty area and was brought down by Adil Rami for a clear foul.

Gerrard, marking his 300th game as captain, stepped up and calmly sent Lille goalkeeper Mickael Landreau the wrong way from the spot.

The goal levelled the tie on aggregate but didn't alter the approach from either team, Liverpool doing most of the attacking as Lille were happy to sit back and look to counter-attack in search of the potentially decisive away goal.

Torres demonstrated against Portsmouth he has rediscovered his appetite for destruction, and the striker came close to adding to his tally shortly after the opener when he beat Emerson for skill, charged towards goal but saw his effort deflected wide.

Liverpool continued to create. A Dirk Kuyt cross into the area fell for Glen Johnson to shoot at Landreau, Agger's goalbound header from a Gerrard corner was halted by a wall of defenders, and another Lucas forward foray ended with a low drive down Landreau's throat.

Lille's goalscorer in France, Eden Hazard, had shown little in the opening half-hour. But all that changed on 33 minutes when, after a slack header clear by Agger, the 19-year-old Belgian raced on to possession, exchanged passes with Yohan Cabaye and evaded a challenge by Johnson only to strike his shot at Pepe Reina's head from point-blank range, the ball looping over the crossbar.

It was a warning of the fine margins Liverpool had left themselves with their failure to score in France the previous week.

Agger's height again got the better of the Lille defence from a Gerrard corner, but this time he sent his 39th-minute effort over, while Torres was wide with his header after a good cross from Kuyt.

A fine tackle by Jamie Carragher denied a raiding Rio Mavuba shortly after the interval before Liverpool wrested full control with a second goal on 49 minutes.

After Rami inexplicably allowed a hopeful Babel punt forward to bounce over his head, Torres, sensing blood, sprinted on to the loose ball, moved away from Lille centre-back Aurelien Chedjou and dinked a sublime finish over the approaching Landreau.

Remarkably, the strike was Torres' first in Europe since scoring in the 3-1 home Champions League defeat to Chelsea almost 12 months ago.

With Lille reeling, Liverpool sought the killer third. Torres dragged a shot wide from 25 yards, and then directed a header at Landreau after the visitors once again struggled to defend a Gerrard corner.

But the French side rode out that particular storm, and the longer the game progressed the more the Anfield faithful became wracked with anxiety.

And hearts were in mouths on 73 minutes when substitute Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ghosted in at the far post unmarked but sidefooted over.

The tension on the stands began to transfer itself to the players on the field, with Liverpool starting to cough up possession cheaply at alarmingly regular intervals.

Kuyt almost calmed fraying nerves with a blistering drive that forced Landreau into a smart stop.

But progress was secured in the final minute when, after Gerrard's shot was parried by Landreau, Torres pounced to fire home his second.

This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.