Torres sends Reds top

Torres only came on with 15 minutes to go and by that time his side were chasing victory after David Nugent's opener had been cancelled out by Fabio Aurelio.

The Spain striker then set up Dirk Kuyt to equalise Pompey's second goal from Hermann Hreidarsson before heading home the winner himself in stoppage time.

The game burst into life on the hour mark, David Ngog's evening came to an end with Kuyt brought on - and it nearly brought an instant reward.

Yossi Benayoun breezed past Hreidarsson and Sylvain Distin before laying the ball off to Kuyt. The substitute crossed to leave an open goal for Ryan Babel from three yards out - but the winger somehow managed to nutmeg himself as he finished.

Nugent made Liverpool pay. Peter Crouch had held the ball up before playing a reverse ball to his strike partner, who slotted his finish calmly past Jose Reina.

Liverpool's way back into the match came after an awful backpass from Crouch. David James had to handle to stop Kuyt from finishing. Xabi Alonso, on as a substitute, tapped the ball for Aurelio to smash into the bottom corner.

Torres came on for the last quarter of an hour for Babel, but Pompey were ahead again with 12 minutes remaining. Nadir Belhadj swung over a free-kick, with Hreidarsson losing his marker and heading past Reina.

Kuyt levelled in the 85th minute after Torres crossed from the right and the Dutchman finished into James' near post.

Then came the final twist, with Torres' powerful header from Benayoun's cross finding a way past James.