Fernando Torres

FERNANDO TORRES crashed through the 20-goal barrier to punch Liverpool past Everton in the race for fourth place.

It has taken Torres only six months to go from nought to 20 – and he hit top gear yesterday to sink Middlesbrough with a brilliant hat-trick.

Rafa Benitez’s biggest buy bagged the match ball and the points and proved he is a worthy wearer of one of the most famous shirts in football.

He is the first striker at Anfield to reach 20 goals since Michael Owen five seasons ago – and a place in Liverpool folklore beckons.

His performance against Boro was a master-class. He tormented Middlesbrough with his pace and movement.

Sometimes the debate is about who should play alongside Torres. When he’s in this mood he doesn’t need a partner.

World Cup winner Marco Materazzi had resorted to fouling to stop him on Tuesday. Boro simply had no answer.

Even so, another Anfield embarrassment threatened until the game was turned on its head by two goals in as many minutes from the terrific Torres.

Boro skipper Julio Arca’s awful back-header sent him sprinting clear in the 28th minute.

He evaded keeper Mark Schwarzer, avoided Emanuel Pogatetz’s attempts to bring him down and fired home.

Then, accepting a pass from Fabio Aurelio, he unleashed a shot of such power and accuracy that Schwarzer had no chance.

Torres completed his second hat-trick for Liverpool with, once again, a helping hand from Boro.

As Dirk Kuyt’s diagonal ball dropped between David Wheater and Schwarzer, both blundered and Torres hooked the ball in.

Benitez said of Torres: “In the first year it is really difficult to score 20 so we are really pleased with him especially as his work-rate is good.”