Fernando Torres has admitted that he played through the pain barrier to fire Liverpool to a crucial 2-0 victory over Manchester United.
A groin injury limited Torres to just two light training sessions last week and he was only told on the team coach to Anfield yesterday that he would start the game.
The gamble by manager Rafael Benitez paid off handsomely, though, as Torres struck the opener and David Ngog added a late second to end a run of four straight defeats.
It was Torres's ninth goal of the season but he admitted: "I wasn't really at my best. We knew before the game I couldn't play to 100 per cent because I had some pain in some actions, but in games like this the pain doesn't matter. We knew before the game that we had to win and we did it."
The Spain striker, who easily brushed off a challenge from Rio Ferdinand before beating United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar at the near post, added: "I feel a bit of pain when I shoot across so I could only shoot towards the near post — it was the only thing I could do."
Nemanja Vidic was sent off for the third game in succession against Liverpool, who themselves had Javier Mascherano red-carded but United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was more unhappy that Jamie Carragher was not given a straight red for hauling down substitute Michael Owen in the second-half. Ferguson, who already has one touchline ban hanging over him after criticising referee Alan Wiley, felt Andre Marriner, yesterday's official, was not up to the job either.
He said: "It is a very difficult atmosphere here. There was a wounded animal aspect to the game and it was something we did not overcome.
"I think it affected our players and it affected the referee. There were so many controversial things that happened we have to feel aggrieved at some of them."
