Features

Torres crucial for Liverpool

Author: John Harris
Date: 30/10/2009
Football betting

Fernando Torres has yet again demonstrated why he is so pivotal to Liverpool's hopes both in the Premier League and in Europe.

The world-class Spain centre-forward shot the Reds into a 1-0 lead against fierce rivals and sportsbook title second favourites Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday, despite struggling through injury as they halted a miserable run of four straight defeats.

The Reds secured a 2-0 success to aid their Premier League title aspirations and the form of Torres is going to be vital if they are to go close this season.

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Torres missed the 1-0 defeat at Sunderland in the league and the demoralising 2-1 home loss to Lyon in the Champions League as the Merseyside giants looked generally toothless in attack.

Rafael Benitez took a gamble to throw him straight back into the firing line and his choice paid dividends as he outmuscled England centre-half Rio Ferdinand to fire past Edwin van der Sar in front of the Kop.

And it is easy to see why the effervescent front man is so important to the team.

He has made 95 first team appearances and scored an excellent 59 goals since he made his club record £20million move in July 2007 from his beloved Atletico Madrid where he spent 12 years acting as captain.

In his first season in England the hitman scored a total of 33 goals, overtaking Ruud van Nistelrooy's title as being the most prolific foreigner ever in a debut season.

He has already accumulated 71 international caps and has scored 23 goals in a fearsome partnership with David Villa and he is likely to spearhead Spain's World Cup bid in South Africa next summer.

To add weight to his claim as the sharpest shooter in the Premier League, he has scored nine goals so far this term in nine appearances - including a hat-trick against Hull City in a 6-1 rout.

Without Torres, Liverpool lack a creative and energetic spark. He is their main man and arguably more influential than captain Steven Gerrard.

El Nino is firmly cementing himself in Anfield folklore and as the Kop rings out: 'We bought the lad from sunny Spain, he gets the ball, he scores again, Fernando Torres, Liverpool's number nine'.

The European giants will be hoping they can chant their favourite tune to a man rivalling the likes of Kenny Dalglish, Ian Rush and Robbie Fowler for years to come.

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