A 'Big Thank-You' From Rafa

28 Nov 2007 Liverpool 4-1 FC Porto - CL Group Stage

BBC - Torres headed in Steven Gerrard's corner to give Liverpool the lead, but Porto equalised with a header of their own, Lisandro Lopez nodding home. Liverpool huffed and puffed in search of the second goal and on 78 minutes Torres curled a shot into the net. Steven Gerrard's penalty made it 3-1 after Milan Stepanov's handball, with Peter Crouch heading in a fourth.

Rafa: "I want to say thank you to our supporters because I think that they were as always magnificent. The most important thing is the team so I say thank you for the support. To the players it was important as I said before the game and it was also for me, so I say a thank you, a big thank you."

Carra on Torres: "He is a world-class striker and he's probably up there with anyone now in striking terms. I only have to mark him in training, thankfully. It's raw pace and strength that he's got and that will cause defences problems. It was a big relief when he got the second goal because when it's 1-1 anything can happen. It was a great goal by Fernando, showing what a top player he is. It was a great performance from him. He's been outstanding all season but he's done it in the Champions League and in a big pressure game like that. He looks like becoming the 20-goal a season striker we've been crying out for but it's not just that, it's the work he puts in. He puts himself about and I think people appreciate the graft he puts in. Even if he doesn't score he makes it really tough for defenders. He's a great lad as well but as long as he's scoring goals it doesn't matter what he is!"

Gerrard: "The most important thing tonight was getting the job done. We can play better but give them credit. Porto have quality players and are well organised, but once we scored the second goal they fell apart and we got the third and fourth. The fans are like having an extra man. They might not realise it but they make a big difference."