LIVERPOOL – Rafael Benitez believes 28-goal Fernando Torres will be the inspiration for another European triumph against the odds, insisting he has the big-match mentality to fire his side to the last four of the Champions League. Liverpool will need their 23-year-old talismanic frontman at his very best when they face Arsenal at the Emirates on Wednesday in the first-leg of their Champions League quarter-final.
Few pundits make them favourites to progress in the competition against Arsene Wenger’s aristocrats, but the Gunners are on a run of shaky form heading into the clash.
Benitez will point to shock European successes against Internazionale, Juventus, AC Milan, Chelsea, Barcelona and Marseille when the chips were down to reinforce Liverpool’s case.
And it is Torres, their £20million hitman, that Liverpool will look to for the goals that could fire them into their ninth European Cup semi-final, and third in four seasons.
Skipper Steven Gerrard said earlier this week that as long as Liverpool give Torres the ball, they believe he will always score.
That belief comes from Benitez too.
He said: “Fernando knows he is a key player for us, and he knows that if we play well he will score goals.
“Three times now in a week we play Arsenal, twice in Europe and on Saturday in the league, and I would expect Fernando to work just as he has done before.
“This, though, is Europe and I know he wants to play well and score more goals.
“The partnership between Gerrard and Torres is improving with every game. On the pitch they understand each other perfectly, they are both clever players and a it is easy for them to work together.
“Although of it maybe Fernando has some trouble with Steven’s scouse accent!”
Benitez, who has only Daniel Agger and Harry Kewell missing ahead of the match, added: “It is the understanding on the pitch between Fernando and Stevie that is the key, and everyone can see how good that has become.
“The players believe Fernando will score, always. They have trust that if they get the ball to him and create chances for him, he will score.
“Stevie has said as much this week, and he is the closest to him; he can see the quality and ability from close quarters.
“He knows just how dangerous Fernando is. Not only in training sessions, but Stevie has seen Torres score 28 goals and he is impressed, he is giving credit that is due and we can all see it.
“Maybe he is better than when he was in Spain. It is different for him here, in Madrid he was going out wide to receive the ball, he was working hard to receive the ball.
“He was having to go at defenders from different positions. But here he has Gerrard close by, so he can stay higher up the pitch and wait for the passes, that has seen him score more goals.”
