Fernando's fifty

Fernando Torres' winning goal in Liverpool's 1-0 victory over Aston Villa on Tuesday evening was El Nino's 50th league strike for the Reds and set a new club record.

The Spain ace became the fastest player in the history of the Reds to reach a half-century in the league, having incredibly done so in just 72 games.

In tribute to our Spanish estrella, Liverpoolfc.tv have compiled each and every one of his 50 - so sit back and take a few moments to remember some classic moments from Anfield's No.9.

Goal 1 - Chelsea
19 August 2007

Torres announced his arrival in English football in spectacular style with a goal on his Anfield debut.
 
Latching on to a piercing Steven Gerrard through ball, the Reds' new signing glided past Chelsea defender Tal Ben-Haim before dispatching a low shot beyond Petr Cech into the bottom corner.
 
Goal 2 - Derby County
1 September 2007
 
The Spaniard claimed his second and third goals for Liverpool as the Reds hammered Derby 6-0 at Anfield to go top of the Premier League table.

Javier Mascherano's challenge 25-yards from the Derby goal pushed the ball into Torres' possession. He left the opposition defenders for dead and slotted the ball into the bottom corner via his left boot in the 56th minute.
 
Goal 3 - Derby County
1 September 2007
 
Torres put the seal on a comprehensive victory for the Reds as he netted Liverpool's sixth and final goal of the afternoon.
 
Derby defender Andy Todd failed to deal with Andriy Voronin's lobbed ball forward, allowing Torres to go through on goal, effortlessly round goalkeeper Stephen Bywater and slide the ball into an empty net.
   
Goal 4 - Tottenham Hotspur
7 October 2007
 
Spurs had twice taken the lead at Anfield courtesy of a Robbie Keane double and it looked as though the three points were heading to White Hart Lane until Torres headed home Steve Finnan's deep cross to salvage a point for Liverpool in stoppage-time. 

Goal 5 - Fulham
10 November 2007
 
Torres came off the bench to score a brilliant individual goal to break Fulham's resistance and put Liverpool on their way to three points.
 
The Spaniard chested down Pepe Reina's long goal-kick before turning and running at the Fulham defence.
 
El Nino left Aaron Hughes floundering before calmly beating Antti Niemi with a clever reverse shot into the bottom corner from 10 yards.
 
Goal 6 - Bolton Wanderers
2 December 2007
 
El Nino scored on the stroke of half-time to send Liverpool into the interval two goals to the good.
 
Steven Gerrard was once again the provider as his long-pass sliced open the Bolton defence, sending Torres through on goal and the Spaniard deftly lifted the ball over the advancing Jussi Jaaskelainen with a finish not too dissimilar to Kenny Dalglish's winner in the 1978 European Cup Final against Bruges.
 
Goal 7 - Portsmouth
22 December 2007
 
Torres helped himself to another brace as Liverpool made the perfect start to the festive period with a 4-1 romp against Portsmouth.
 
His first came in the 67th minute when he calmly rolled the ball into the bottom corner after Pompey 'keeper David James had inadvertently deflected it into his path.
 
Goal 8 - Portsmouth
22 December 2007
 
The Spanish international rounded off another good afternoon's work with his second goal five minutes from time.
 
Jamie Carragher's lofted ball into the area was headed back to Torres by Steven Gerrard and the striker clinically dispatched a left-footed volley into the bottom corner.
 
Goal 9 - Derby County
26 December 2007
 
Another game and another superb goal from Liverpool's talismanic centre forward.
 
Torres put the Reds ahead after 11 minutes with a festive cracker. Ryan Babel laid the ball off and the Spaniard burst into the box, nutmegging Darren Moore en route, before curling a shot into the far corner via his left boot. 

Goal 10 - Wigan Athletic
2 January 2008
 
On a bitterly cold January evening at Anfield, Torres fired Liverpool into an early second-half lead with his 10th Premier League goal.
 
A well worked move resulted in Steven Gerrard releasing Steve Finnan into the right hand channel and his low cross was turned past Chris Kirkland by El Nino from 10 yards.
 
Goal 11 - Middlesbrough
12 January 2008
 
With Liverpool trailing, Torres collected possession 25 yards from goal and ran at the Boro defence before drilling an unstoppable strike in off the post to earn the Reds a point.
 
Goal 12 - Sunderland
2 February 2008
 
El Nino netted Liverpool's second goal with a trademark finish as the Reds cruised to a 3-0 victory over Sunderland.
 
Torres was put through on goal by Peter Crouch's flick-on and the end result was never in doubt as he slammed the ball past Craig Gordon. 

Goal 13 - Middlesbrough
23 February 2008
 
Torres became the first Liverpool player to score 20 goals or more in a season since Michael Owen in 2002-03 with a treble against Middlesbrough.
 
His first was something of a gift as Julio Arca's header towards his own goal on 28 minutes only succeeded in finding the lurking Torres.
 
The Reds' No.9 didn't need a second invitation to equalise as he kept his composure to round the goalkeeper and roll the ball into an empty net.
 
Goal 14 - Middlesbrough
23 February 2008
 
The Spanish star claimed his second in as many minutes. This time, fed by Fabio Aurelio, he powered a low drive into the left corner from 25 yards.
 
Goal 15 - Middlesbrough
23 February 2008
 
El Nino completed his hat-trick on the hour mark.
 
Dirk Kuyt's cross-field pass drew Boro goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer to the edge of his area but Torres beat both he, and defender David Wheater, to the ball and lofted it into the unguarded goal at the Kop end.
 
Goal 16 - West Ham United
5 March 2008
 
Torres became the first Reds striker since Jack Balmer in 1946 to score successive hat-tricks at Anfield as he followed up his treble against Middlesbrough 10 days earlier with another three against West Ham.
 
He notched his first of the evening after just eight minutes when he got ahead of his marker to steer Dirk Kuyt's cross from the right past Robert Green with the side of his right boot.
 
Goal 17 - West Ham United
5 March 2008
 
The Spaniard netted his second on the hour mark, with Dirk Kuyt claiming another assist.
 
This time the Dutchman's cross back into the area following a half-cleared Reds corner was precisely headed home from close-range by Torres.
 
Goal 18 - West Ham United
5 March 2008
 
Torres finally sealed his hat-trick with 10 minutes remaining, having earlier rattled the post with a powerful diving header.
 
Pouncing on to John Arne Riise's header into the box, the Reds' striker dinked the ball through the legs of the hapless Lucas Neill and steered it across the body of Robert Green into the bottom corner for league goal number 18 of his debut season at Anfield.
 
Goal 19 - Newcastle United
8 March 2008
 
El Nino continued a rich vein of form with another superlative strike as his partnership with Steven Gerrard continued to blossom.
 
Torres headed the ball down to Gerrard on the half-way line and the Reds' skipper charged at the Newcastle defence before playing an incisive pass into the run of our No.9.
 
The Spaniard sold 'keeper Steve Harper an outrageous dummy and slid the ball into the back of the net for his 25th goal of the season in all competitions.
 
Goal 20 - Reading
15 March 2008
 
Torres reached the 20 league goals milestone against Reading, becoming the first Liverpool player since Robbie Fowler in 1995-96 to achieve the feat.
 
The Reds' No.9 lost his marker to plant a firm header past Marcus Hahnemann to claim his ninth goal in six games.
 
Goal 21 - Everton
30 March 2008
 
El Nino marked his first Merseyside derby with the only goal of the game to help Liverpool complete a league double over Everton.
 
Xabi Alonso reclaimed possession on the edge of the Everton box after the Blues had attempted to clear from a corner and Dirk Kuyt flicked the ball into Torres' path inside the box.
 
The outcome was inevitable as the Spaniard drilled low across the body of Tim Howard in front of the Kop.
 
Goal 22 - Blackburn Rovers
13 April 2008
 
The landmarks continued to come for El Nino as he became the first player in Liverpool history to net in seven successive top-flight games at Anfield with a goal against Blackburn. 
 
It came eight minutes from time when he met a Steven Gerrard cross at the back post with a fine header to beat goalkeeper Brad Friedel.
 
Goal 23 - Manchester City
4 May 2008
 
El Nino signed off from Anfield in his debut season with yet another goal in front of the Kop.
 
Torres' electric pace left City defender Richard Dunne for dead before the striker slipped the ball into the far corner of the goal. 

Goal 24 - Tottenham Hotspur
11 May 2008
 
Torres netted his 24th league goal of the season to beat Ruud van Nistelrooy's record for most league goals by a foreigner in a debut season in English football.
 
The goal came in the 74th minute when the striker turned a Tottenham defender inside out before sliding the ball under the body of Spurs 'keeper Radek Cerny.
 
Goal 25 - Sunderland
16 August 2008
 
Torres struck a late winner to get Liverpool's season off to a winning start on the opening day of the 2008-09 Premier League season.
 
With the game heading for a draw, the Spanish striker picked up Xabi Alonso's pass and lashed a ferocious shot into the bottom corner from 25 yards to secure the three points.

Goal 26 - Everton
27 September 2008
 
El Nino ended something of a mini goal drought by his own high standards with a derby double against Everton in the sunshine.
 
Torres struck twice in three minutes to secure a 2-0 victory for Liverpool, with the first goal coming when the Spaniard ghosted in at the far post to deftly volley Robbie Keane's cross through the legs of Tim Howard.
 
Goal 27 - Everton
27 September 2008
 
Torres added his, and Liverpool's, second within minutes of his first when he showed his predatory instincts by pouncing on a loose ball inside the area and hammering a shot into the roof of the net from 10 yards.
 
Goal 28 - Manchester City
5 October 2008
 
Our No.9 set Liverpool on their way to a remarkable comeback against Manchester City at Eastlands.
 
With City leading 2-0, Torres got ahead of his marker to steer Alvaro Arbeloa's cross over the line from close-range early in the second half. 

Goal 29 - Manchester City

5 October 2008
 
The Spain striker then drew Liverpool level when he met Steven Gerrard's corner with a near-post run and thumping header before Dirk Kuyt completed the comeback with an injury-time winner.  
 
Goal 30 - Chelsea
1 February 2009
 
Torres sent Anfield wild with two late goals to clinch a 2-0 victory over Chelsea for Liverpool.
 
His first came in the 89th minute as the striker got in front of defender Alex to head Fabio Aurelio's centre from the left past Petr Cech.
 
Goal 31 - Chelsea
1 February 2009
 
Nando's second arrived just moments later. Yossi Benayoun stole possession from Ashley Cole on the edge of the area before squaring for Torres to tap home from 10 yards.
 
Goal 32 - Portsmouth
7 February 2009
 
It was another late, late show from El Nino as Torres headed a 90th minute winner in a pulsating 3-2 victory over Portsmouth at Fratton Park.
 
Yossi Benayoun collected possession inside the left edge of the area and the Israeli delivered a pin-point centre, which was met by a bullet header from the Reds' No.9 that left Pompey stopper David James helpless. 

Goal 33 - Manchester United
14 March 2009

El Nino put Liverpool on their way to one of their finest league victories in living memory as the Reds crushed Manchester United 4-1 at Old Trafford.
 
After falling behind to a Ronaldo penalty, Torres drew the visitors level just before the half hour mark.
 
The Liverpool number nine forced Nemanja Vidic into misjudging Martin Skrtel's long-ball and the Spanish international used his strength to hold off the United centre-back before clinically slipping a low shot into the bottom corner when one-on-one with Edwin van der Sar.  

Goal 34 - Blackburn Rovers
11 April 2009
 
Arguably El Nino's finest solo goal in a Reds shirt.
 
Jamie Carragher's flighted ball forward was controlled on the chest by Torres, before he swiveled and sent an unstoppable volley over the despairing arms of Paul Robinson in an instant.
 
Simply sensational.
 
Goal 35 - Blackburn Rovers
11 April 2009
 
Nando claimed his second of an emphatic afternoon as he evaded his marker to score with a header from Xabi Alonso's pin-point free-kick. 

Goal 36 - Arsenal
21 April 2009
 
Torres scored after 49 minutes to draw Liverpool level in one of the most thrilling matches witnessed at Anfield for many years. 
 
The 25-year-old rose highest to meet Dirk Kuyt's cross and plant an unstoppable header beyond the reach of Gunners' goalie Lukasz Fabianski.
 
Goal 37 - Arsenal
21 April 2009
 
El Nino smashed home a deserved second on 72 minutes to level the scoreline at 3-3.
 
Collecting the ball with his back to goal, Torres created half a yard of space for himself against Mikael Silvestre before guiding a low shot into the bottom corner.

Goal 38 - Tottenham Hotspur
24 May 2009

The final day of the season... not that much to play for... but don't tell that to El Nino as the Spanish striker placed a brilliant header past Gomes in the Tottenham goal from Dirk Kuyt's deep right wing cross.

Goal 39 - Stoke City
19 August 2009

Torres fired Liverpool into an early lead against a Stoke City side who had held the Reds to two frustrating goalless stalemates the season before. The Spain ace swept Steven Gerrard's low cross beyond Thomas Sorensen after just four minutes to put Rafa's men on their way to a comfortable 4-0 success.

Goal 40 - Aston Villa
24 August 2009

El Nino gave Liverpool hope of salvaging a point against Aston Villa as he instinctively diverted Emiliano Insua's driven cross into the back of the net to cut the visitors' lead, but Martin O'Neill's men secured the win with a late penalty.

Goal 41 - Bolton Wanderers
29 August 2009

Our No.9 was in inspired form as he helped Liverpool to a dramatic 3-2 success over Bolton Wanderers at the Reebok. Steven Gerrard's ball into the box was chested into the path of Torres by Dirk Kuyt, and the striker made no mistake in dispatching a clinical shot into the corner of the goal from eight yards to level the scoreline at 2-2.

Goal 42 - West Ham United
19 September 2009

Fernando's ability to slalom his way past defenders is one of many unique talents in his repertoire - and this was on full display as the 25-year-old bamboozled the Hammers' defence before stabbing past Robert Green to break the deadlock at Upton Park.  

Goal 43 - West Ham United
19 September 2009

With just 15 minutes remaining, Torres rose highest to plant Ryan Babel's inviting cross into the back of the net with his head and secure a 3-2 victory for Liverpool.

Goal 44 - Hull City
26 September 2009

It didn't take long for El Nino to break Hull's resistance at Anfield as he scored another magnificent hat-trick, with his first goal arriving on 12 minutes.

Collecting Albert Riera's precise cut-back, Torres created a yard of space for himself inside a packed area before sliding a left-footed effort into the far bottom corner.

Goal 45 - Hull City
26 September 2009

Fernando continued his striking master class against Phil Brown's side with perhaps his best goal of the afternoon.

The striker sprung Hull's offside trap to latch onto Yossi Benayoun's through ball, and the striker proceeded to skip away from a defender and goalkeeper before nonchalantly tapping the ball into the empty net.

World class.

Goal 46 - Hull City
26 September 2009

Torres wrapped up his Tigers treble early in the second-half of this 6-1 triumph. Yossi was again the provider, slipping a ball in behind the Hull rearguard for the striker to run on to.

And again, El Nino made it look all too easy as he cut inside a Hull defender and dispatched a low effort into the centre of the goal from 12 yards.

Goal 47 - Manchester United
25 October 2009

Rafa Benitez said afterwards our No.9 was only '80 per cent fit' for this tussle with United - but Torres was still too much for Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic to handle.

It was the former who was brushed aside as Fernando was sent bearing down on goal, and he made no mistake with a powerful finish beyond Edwin van der Sar at the Kop end to send Anfield into raptures.

Goal 48 - Fulham
31 October 2009

The only bright spot on an otherwise gloomy Halloween afternoon at Craven Cottage.

Torres equalised for Liverpool on the stroke of half-time with a sizzling first time volley from the edge of the box that arrowed into the bottom corner, demonstrating exactly why he is the finest striker around.

Goal 49 - Wigan Athletic
16 December 2009

On as a substitute, Torres latched on to Gerrard's flick and burst beyond the Wigan defence. He rounded Kirkland, but saw his initial shot blocked on the line by Bramble. However, that was no problem for El Nino as he has the presence of mind to bundle into the back of the net at the second attempt.

Goal 50 - Aston Villa
29 December 2009

And that's the record! Torres secures an important 1-0 win for Liverpool at Villa Park with an injury-time winner, latching onto a loose ball into the box and steering calmly beyond Brad Friedel to send the travelling Kop into ecstasy.

Games it took the greats to hit 50:
 
72 Fernando Torres
80 Sam Raybould
80 Albert Stubbins
81 Roger Hunt
82 Jack Parkinson
83 John Aldridge
84 Ian Rush
88 Robbie Fowler
90 Gordon Hodgson
98 Harry Chambers
98 Kenny Dalglish
98 Michael Owen
104 Joe Hewitt
105 Ian St John
111 John Barnes
114 Robert Robinson
116 John Toshack
121 David Johnson
125 Dick Forshaw
125 Tom Miller
129 Jimmy Melia
139 Jack Balmer
160 Berry Niewenhuys
162 Alf Hanson
167 Billy Liddell
175 Kevin Keegan
208 Jack Cox
221 Terry McDermott
269 Ray Kennedy
271 Arthur Goddard
280 Alan A'Court
281 Steven Gerrard
302 Steve Heighway