At #99 in Brady Jones’ Top 100 LFC Goals of the Decade is Fernando Torres with an excellently taken volley at Fulham in an unfortunate 1-3 defeat during the 2009-2010 season.
In typical Torres fashion, power was in combination with finesse and accuracy with this goal. With only minutes remaining in the first half, and Liverpool down by a goal, the ball fell to Torres in the “D.” Despite having multiple people surrounding him, and despite there being no clear sight at goal, Torres had a hit on the volley, which he lasered low into the near post corner to level the scores. Although we would go on to lose the match, this moment of brilliance will be a pleasant memory in what would prove to become a difficult time as a Liverpool supporter. The autumn of 2009 was a titanic struggle, and injuries to this man Torres shortly after this match would prolong our struggles even further.
El Nino has scored more than one classic during his time at Liverpool, including several low lasers like this one, but one thing that sticks out in his game is the variety of goals in which he scores. He can score from distance, on the volley, with his head, or even the occasional poacher’s goal. What is truly impressive is that he always seems to find a way to score, even when things are not going his way. At Fulham in this fixture, he had been totally devoid of chances. So when DID come his way, guess what? He took it and buried it. You have to love that about Torres, and that is one of many reasons he has become such a Kop idol. The fact that he became the fastest player in Liverpool history to 50 league goals by a clear 8 matches is just part of the story… the other part is that he scores GREAT goals. Like this one!
Why #99?
This goal makes the list based on a few reasons. First, the volley was taken marvellously, especially given that he did not have a clear view of the goal. Second, it was hit hard and into a corner. You have to love that! It was down towards the bottom not based on its own quality, but mostly because goals ahead of it had more of an “aura” to them (build-up, difficulty of the strike, hit towards the far-post instead of the near-post, not hitting the ground before reaching the net, etc.). None of this should take away from the fact that this goal was brilliant, though!
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