Liverpool turn their focus to Madrid marathon

London: Liverpool went into this encounter more worried about their travel marathon to Madrid than what now seems to be a hopeless pursuit of a Champions League place.

That and the question of whether they have seen the last of Fernando Torres, whom they would very much like to stay, and their American owners, whom they would very much like to go.

But amid the chaos of a week that only adds to this shambles of a season, Rafa Benitez's side still secured a victory so comfortable West Ham's owners will again wonder if they should have changed their manager when they had the chance.

A three-point gap between them and 18th-placed Hull City looks as though it may yet save Gianfranco Zola's side.

But the chances of the likeable Italian lasting beyond the summer are zero if this is how they respond to the very real threat of relegation — or Armageddon, as David Sullivan chooses to call it.

Failure to respond

This was an abject display, their failure to muster any kind of response to the first-half goals from Yossi Benayoun and David Ngog as shocking as the defending that allowed Liverpool to climb back to sixth in the Barclays Premier League ahead of an Aston Villa side who meet Hull tomorrow night.

Clearly, Zola was not helped by the absence of the suspended Scott Parker or the kind of problems that have too often forced him to make changes to his back four.

Such a lack of continuity would trouble any team. But although a drop into the Championship would be a financial disaster for the club, the message does not seem to be getting through to players who continue to command enormous salaries.

They might blame their predicament on the departure of players off-loaded in desperation over the last year but there was no excuse for their apathy last night.

There were exceptions, most notably in the form of Robert Green, even if he did suffer the embarrassment of a 58th-minute own goal.

For Liverpool, it was a good deal more positive. They now pursue the Europa League without the injured Torres but the goal Ngog scored will provide a renewed sense of hope ahead of the first leg of their semi-final against Atletico Madrid.

Torres would have dearly loved to have made a triumphant return to his old club this week.