Spanish ace scores brace as kops beat Lille 3-0 to enter last eight

Reds hot! Liverpool's Fernando Torres (left) scores past Lille goalkeeper Mickael Landreau during their Europa League Round of 16 second leg tie at Anfield yesterday. Torres scored twice as Liverpool won 3-0. pic/afp

Fernando Torres struck twice as Liverpool stormed back to overturn a first leg deficit against Lille to book their place in the last eight of the Europa League at Anfield last night. Trailing 1-0 from the first leg, Steven Gerrard marked his 300th appearance as captain by levelling the scores on aggregate from the penalty spot. And Torres' first goal in European competition this season doubled his side's lead early in the second half before he made it 3-0 in the last minute. The 3-1 aggregate success keeps Liverpool's season alive as Rafael Benitez's stuttering side battle to avoid a fourth successive season without winning silverware.

Albert Riera was nowhere to be seen at Anfield after his outspoken attack on Benitez. The Spanish international, who has not completed 90 minutes for Liverpool since last September, said in an interview with Spanish radio that the Merseyside club were a 'sinking ship' and claimed compatriot Benitez didn't talk to him.

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