Source: Daily_Mail
Liverpool can't win it, says Gerrard: But 'Scouser' Torres promises to stay loyal
Steven Gerrard has admitted Liverpool are out of the title race and that the Barclays Premier League's crown is Chelsea's to squander.[LNB]It is 19 years since Liverpool last lorded it over England and theAnfield faithful will have to wait at least another year, according tothe England midfielder. The club's fans can, however, look forward toseveral more seasons of Fernando Torres leading the line.[LNB]As captain Gerrard attempted to put some positive spin on his side'sfaltering season, the Spain striker admitted he had become such adyed-in-the-wool Scouser that he intends to play himself into theclub's folklore.[LNB]Gerrard said: 'At the moment we're out of the title race, but we will keep trying to get back in it.[LNB] Playing catch-up: Steven Gerrard says the main target is to get back into thetop four[LNB]'I think we have to be realistic. There is still a lot offootball to be played and it is possible to turn it around. But I thinkChelsea are looking really strong at the moment.[LNB]'Our maintarget is to get back into the top four. We're coming off the back of afantastic win at Everton and we want to continue that against Blackburnand try and go on a run of games where we can get closer to the teamsabove us.'[LNB]Liverpool are fifth in the table, a daunting 13points behind leaders Chelsea and have failed to qualify for theChampions League group stages. Gerrard will lead his side out at Blackburn on Saturday desperate to capitalise on a convincingMerseyside derby win in scoreline at least.[LNB]The England midfielder, who played in an advanced position in the2-0 triumph at Goodison, which Everton dominated, added on talkSportradio: 'I have total belief in my team-mates. We have certainlyunder-achieved this season. But after last season where we finished soclose in second, we're virtually the same group of players. We've addeda couple to that, obviously Glen Johnson who is a top player.[LNB] Turning point? Liverpool played badly - and won - against Everton[LNB]'We'vejust underachieved this year, we haven't played to our capabilities.What we've learned so far this season is that if you do under-performand don't match the teams around you chasing it, you will certainlyfall behind as we have done.[LNB]'There are some fantastic teamsout there full of world-class players. There are six or seven top-classteams in the league at the moment, all fighting for the top fourpositions. The league is very difficult, we realise that.[LNB]'But we certainly won't stop trying and we'll keep working hard totry and bring it back for all those Liverpool fans that are desperate for it as well.'[LNB] [LNB] On the upside, Torres has disappointed suitors across Europe by admitting he already feels like a Scouser.[LNB]TheLiverpool striker's stunning impact on English football has made him a£50million-plus target for a parade of top sides, reportedly headed by Manchester City, but he insists he is going nowhere.[LNB]The25-year-old star admits he could not read fuel bills that droppedthrough his letter box to begin with and was forced to turn to clubofficials for help after receiving reminders and final demands.[LNB]Lessthan two-and-a-half years on, he claims he already feels steeped in thecity's culture and history and that his grasp of English even extendsto the local dialect.[LNB]'I really feel at home in Liverpool andit helps that I have learned the language,' he said. 'Have I picked upany Scouse? Deffo! I am picking up words all the time, because thereare a lot of Scousers at the club. It was difficult to begin with, whenI could not read letters from the bank or electricity or water bills.[LNB] Calm down: Torres has quashed rumours of an Anfield exit[LNB]'Idid not know whether I had paid or not, but then I would get anotherletter, asking for money. People at the club were very good, though,and helped me sort everything out. Now, I can more or less understandall the locals and if my daughter grows up speaking Scouse, as well asEnglish, I will be proud.[LNB]'From my first day as a Liverpoolplayer, right up to today, I have always felt that Anfield is my home.I feel like I am from Liverpool. In my first month here, I went roundall the important places in the city with my friends, all the touristattractions, like John Lennon's house, the Beatles museum and thecathedrals.[LNB]'The club gave me lots of books and dvds on myfirst day, so I know all about the history of Anfield. I am very proudto play for a club with so much history.'[LNB]Torres is familiar with great names from Liverpool's past and wants to join the roll call before his Anfield days are over.[LNB]'Iwould like to be part of Liverpool's history one day by winningtrophies,' he said, as he continued his recovery ahead of Saturday'sgame at Ewood Park.[LNB]'I have plenty of years here, I'm sure ofthat, and I hope the trophies will come soon. The fans have seen someof the best players in the world playing for Liverpool and now theysing my name.[LNB]'For me, it is amazing to score at Anfield andamazing to score in front of the Kop. When I hear people sing my name,it is the best feeling I can have on the pitch.[LNB]'But I haveonly been here two years and I have not won any trophies yet. I haveonly scored some goals, but I hope, in a few years, I can write anotherbook, explaining about the trophies I have won as a Liverpool player.[LNB]'Thepeople here are very different from in Madrid. Over there, people don'thave much respect for players, but, here, even Evertonians talk to mein a really good way.[LNB]'When I was at Atletico, the RealMadrid fans didn't like me, but Everton fans are really friendly withme. I must say, I was surprised by that.'[LNB] Proud 'Scouser' Torres tells Manchester City to forget making £50m swoopBenitez insists spirit of legendary boss Shankly still lives on at AnfieldBill Shankly: The top 10 quotes of a Liverpool legend 50 years to the day since he took overTorres aiming to face Blackburn as boss Benitez aims to rebuild troubled seasonLIVERPOOL FC