LIVERPOOL // There are occasions when adjectives such as "unplayable" acquire a meaning. This was one. Fernando Torres, gliding beyond defenders, locating space where there appeared none and finishing with surgical precision, defeated Hull yesterday. His teammates contributed as many goals, but Torres' capacity to devastate has rarely been more apparent. Few cause havoc with greater elegance. This was a rout instigated by one man.
His hat-trick, following a brace against West Ham a week before, confirmed Torres is in a rich vein of form and brought Liverpool a sixth consecutive victory. In the process, they cemented Hull's position in the relegation zone. Each of Torres' trio was taken with the assurance of a man who knows he is going to score.
The opener was typical Torres, featuring the ability to operate in tight confines, with a flash of skill, a dart of pace and a well-timed shimmy that have helped him forge such an enviable reputation. When Emiliano Insua and Albert Riera combined on the left flank, the latter's centre was met by a turning Torres. Evading Ibrahima Sonko and directing his shot into the far corner, the Spaniard duly made the breakthrough.
That was impressive enough. Torres' second, however, was the sort of strike that elicited gasps of admiration inside Anfield. It was executed with the nonchalance that class can afford, an unhurried Torres opting to defeat two defenders and the goalkeeper before eventually finishing. Following Yossi Benayoun's through ball, he escaped from Sonko, Boaz Myhill and Liam Cooper on a solo run of meandering menace. Scoring proved the simplest task of all.
Indeed, his third goal suggested that defeating defenders began a habit and was fast becoming an addiction. After a second perceptive pass from Benayoun, Torres' speed gave him the opportunity to shoot straight away. Instead, he veered past the hapless Sonko before placing a shot between Paul McShane's legs and beyond Myhill.
Even before then, one moment had served as a microcosm of Hull's inability to cope with Torres. Displaying the sense and purpose to hold off would-be assailants, he was eventually felled, illegally, by a fourth opponent in Kevin Kilbane.
Sandwiching Torres' first two goals, Hull had struck themselves. Memories of their 2-2 draw at Anfield last season were revived, albeit briefly, when Geovanni equalised. It was another goal to illustrate Liverpool's uncertain defending. Although McShane, with a cross, and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, with a header, both played contributions for Hull, the ball came to Geovanni following Martin Skrtel's unconvincing clearance. The Brazilian is a suitably fine technician to take advantage of a half-volley inside the penalty area.
That was all that went Hull's way. Phil Brown has forged a reputation as a manager who is willing to take a risk. Giving the 18-year-old defender Cooper a league debut at Anfield was certainly a gamble. If it was a chastening affair for him, it is hard to fault the teenager: far more seasoned defenders would have struggled with Torres.
The fourth goal came from Steven Gerrard, who netted with what rather appeared an over-hit cross, but was sufficient to deceive Myhill and find the top corner. Ryan Babel, whose replacement of Torres had appeared an act of mercy towards Hull, added a late brace, touching in Dirk Kuyt's cross and Riera's shot respectively.
This was the third time Liverpool have scored at least four at Anfield this season and, as Hull capitulated, it could have been considerably more. It was emphatic.
Yet it took place to the now familiar backdrop of internal strife. The co-owner George Gillett's first visit of the season was overshadowed by a demonstration led by the influential Spirit of Shankly protest group and coincided with suggestions that the Saudi Prince Faisal will take a 50 per cent share in the club. Quite what a 50 per cent share in Torres would be worth now is a moot point, but it certainly wouldn't come cheap.
rjolly@thenational.ae
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
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APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)
Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits
Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
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Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4
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Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID
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In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company%20Profile
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COMPANY PROFILE
● Company: Bidzi
● Started: 2024
● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid
● Based: Dubai, UAE
● Industry: M&A
● Funding size: Bootstrapped
● No of employees: Nine
Haircare resolutions 2021
From Beirut and Amman to London and now Dubai, hairstylist George Massoud has seen the same mistakes made by customers all over the world. In the chair or at-home hair care, here are the resolutions he wishes his customers would make for the year ahead.
1. 'I will seek consultation from professionals'
You may know what you want, but are you sure it’s going to suit you? Haircare professionals can tell you what will work best with your skin tone, hair texture and lifestyle.
2. 'I will tell my hairdresser when I’m not happy'
Massoud says it’s better to offer constructive criticism to work on in the future. Your hairdresser will learn, and you may discover how to communicate exactly what you want more effectively the next time.
3. ‘I will treat my hair better out of the chair’
Damage control is a big part of most hairstylists’ work right now, but it can be avoided. Steer clear of over-colouring at home, try and pursue one hair brand at a time and never, ever use a straightener on still drying hair, pleads Massoud.
The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
'THE WORST THING YOU CAN EAT'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
About Okadoc
Date started: Okadoc, 2018
Founder/CEO: Fodhil Benturquia
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Healthcare
Size: (employees/revenue) 40 staff; undisclosed revenues recording “double-digit” monthly growth
Funding stage: Series B fundraising round to conclude in February
Investors: Undisclosed
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Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
Jigra
Starring: Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina, Manoj Pahwa, Harsh Singh
Nepotism is the name of the game
Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad.
Nick's journey in numbers
Countries so far: 85
Flights: 149
Steps: 3.78 million
Calories: 220,000
Floors climbed: 2,000
Donations: GPB37,300
Prostate checks: 5
Blisters: 15
Bumps on the head: 2
Dog bites: 1
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000