Liverpool 3-2 Middlesbrough

Feb 24 2008

KOP boss Rafa Benitez praised 21-goal Fernando Torres after his hat-trick sent Liverpool fourth.

Torres - the first Reds forward for five years to reach the 20-goal mark in a season - rescued Benitiz from more domestic woes after Boro took a shock early lead.

Tuncay Sanli headed the visitors ahead and Stewart Downing got their second after 83 minutes but in between Torres struck three times to clinch victory.

Benitez said: "It is not easy for a foreign player to come into the English league and settle.

"But Fernando has done that . He has power and pace and has proved to be a great signing. Last summer we had 10 names but we went for Fernando because he had the style to handle the Premier League."

Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate rued the red card shown to Jeremie Aliadiere for raising his hands to Javier Mascherano.

Southgate said: "He has to accept if you do that in front of a young referee you will be sent off."