Liverpool 3
Torres 28,29,61
Middlesbrough 2
Tuncay 9 Downing 83 Aliadiere s/o 85
Liverpool 3 Middlesbrough 2 February 23 2008
Fernando Torres' splendid hat-trick earned Liverpool a 3-2 victory over brave Middlesbrough at Anfield as the Reds reclaimed fourth spot.
The Spaniard became the first Liverpool forward to hit 20 goals in a season for five years, his total now being 21 since his £20million move to Merseyside.
But the hosts were made to fight for the win. Tuncay Sanli's header gave Boro an early lead before Torres struck twice in two minutes before the break.
He completed his hat-trick, the second since he arrived at the club, on the hour after a mix-up between Mark Schwarzer and David Wheater.
But Stewart Downing kept his side in the game with a goal in the closing minutes after rounding Yossi Benayoun and sliding home.
But any chance they had of grabbing a point was ruined when Jeremie Aliadiere was sent-off after an incident with Javier Mascherano.