 Torres was named the Premier League Player of the Month for February 2008 , during which he scored four goals in four appearances , including a hat @-@ trick against Middlesbrough on 23 February 2008 . This hat @-@ trick and another in a 4 – 0 victory over West Ham United on 5 March 2008 meant he became the first Liverpool player since Jack <unk> in November 1946 to score a hat @-@ trick in successive home matches . Later in March , after he scored a 47th @-@ minute header against Reading at Anfield , becoming the first Liverpool player since Robbie Fowler in the 1995 – 96 season to score 20 league goals in a season . In April , he scored another Champions League goal , this time against Arsenal in the quarter @-@ final second leg , as Liverpool advanced to the semi @-@ final . This goal took him onto 29 goals for the 2007 – 08 season in all competitions , eclipsing Michael Owen 's personal record for goals in a season . On 11 April 2008 , it was announced Torres had made a six @-@ man shortlist for the PFA Players ' Player of the Year award , which was eventually won by <unk> Ronaldo of Manchester United . The Spanish international was also nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year Award , which was won by <unk> <unk> of Arsenal and was named in the PFA Team of the Year . In May , he finished second to Ronaldo for the <unk> <unk> of the Year award . 
