Spain striker Fernando Torres scored twice as Liverpool beat Porto 4-1 to keep alive their hopes of qualifying for the last 16 of the Champions League.

Torres opened the scoring in the 19th minute at Anfield, but his side were pegged back when Porto's Lisandro Lopez sent a header past keeper Pepe Reina in the 33rd minute.

Liverpool had to be patient before scoring three goals in the last 12 minutes, with Torres getting his second of the night, captain Steven Gerrard converting a penalty and substitute Peter Crouch nodding home with three minutes left.

Rafael Benitez's team had previously looked on the verge of going out of the competition after picking up just one point from their opening three games in Group A.

But back-to-back wins over Besiktas and Porto mean that Liverpool now need to beat Olympique Marseille away in their final match to reach the last 16.

Third in the group, Benitez's side are level on seven points with second-placed Marseille, who lost 2-1 at Besiktas, and a point behind Porto.

Wednesday's win also eased some of the pressure on Benitez, who has recently been at odds with the club's American owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks.

Torres handed the home side a perfect start by heading in Gerrard's corner as Porto defender Bruno Alves was caught ball watching.

Porto produced a surprise equaliser though when Przemyslaw Kazmierczak's 33rd minute cross cleared defender Alvaro Arbeloa and Lopez headed past Reina from close range.

The Portuguese league leaders wasted two chances to take a lead as Liverpool appeared to be rattled as halftime approached.

Gerrard's blind backpass allowed Ricardo Quaresma to race through on goal and his delay allowed defender Steve Finnan to get back and tackle.

Lucho Gonzalez then lifted the ball over the Liverpool defence, only for Lopez to hook his effort wide with just Reina to beat.

Liverpool sent on Crouch with 20 minutes left but it was fellow substitute Harry Kewell who made the difference.

The Australian midfielder carried the ball from the halfway line in the 78th minute and found Torres in the area, with the Spaniard then spinning away from his marker to angle a shot into the corner of the net.

Milan Stepanov handled a Gerrard free kick under a challenge by Sami Hyypia in 84th minute and the Liverpool captain converted the spot kick.

To the delight of the home crowd, there was still enough time for Crouch to nod in a Gerrard corner with keeper Helton at fault.

Besiktas 2-1 Marseille

Brazilian Bobo's late goal earned Besiktas a 2-1 win over Olympique Marseille in their Champions League Group A match to keep alive the Turkish team's hopes of reaching the last 16.

Besiktas remain bottom but now have six points and trail Marseille and Liverpool by just a point after the English side thrashed group leaders Porto 4-1 at Anfield.

The Turks visit the Portuguese, who have eight points, in their final group match while Liverpool travel to Marseille.

With the Turkish side on the verge of elimination, striker Bobo sprinted on to a pass in the 88th minute and slotted the ball under Marseille goalkeeper Steve Mandanda.

Still smarting from an 8-0 thrashing at Liverpool in their previous fixture, Besiktas were fired up for the match.

"Unfortunately, we saddened everyone in the last game and we had to win to ease that sadness," said coach Ertugrul Saglam.

"Now it is down to the last match and every team can advance." "We can beat Porto. We will do what we can to win the game and advance to the next round," he said.

The home side attacked straight from the kickoff with midfielder Rodrigo Tello firing a long-range shot just over the bar in the second minute.

With Marseille failing to impose themselves in the early stages, Besiktas continued to exert pressure culminating with Tello opening the scoring in the 27th minute.

The Chilean curled a freekick over the wall and into the right-hand corner, leaving Mandanda helpless.

Marseille emerged in the second half with more purpose and got their reward in the 65th minute when Nigerian substitute Taye Taiwo drove in a powerful long-range shot to beat Turkey goalkeeper Rustu Recber.

Marseille's equaliser shook Besiktas back into life and with two minutes of normal time remaining, Bobo revived the Turkish side's hopes of advancing to the knockout phase.

Reuters