Liverpool Football Club News

• Nickname:Reds
• Founded:1892
• Manager:Kenny Dalglish

• Ground:Anfield
• Capacity:45,362

Benitez hails Torres treble

24 Feb 2008 - 11:38:03

Click To Enlarge

Liverpool's record signing Fernando Torres earned high praise from manager Rafa Benitez after this hat-trick in the 3-2 victory at home to Middlesbrough.

Torres has now scored 21 goals in 31 appearances since his big-money arrival from Atletico Madrid last summer and Benitez believes the Spain international frontman can do even better in the future.

The Reds boss commented: "It is not easy for a foreign player to come into the English league and settle straight away, but he has done that so well. He has power and pace, he can kill defenders with his pace.

"He has proved to be a great signing. Last summer we had ten names we were considering, then it was down to three.

"But we went for Fernando because he was hungry and had the style to handle the Premier League.

"It is difficult to score 20 goals for anyone in a season, but he has done that well before the end of the campaign.

"Torres is still young and very hungry and he has settled well for his first season. He looks like he could go on and score plenty of goals for us.

"With him anything seems possible. He has scored 21 goals this season which is really good in his first season with the club and he is enjoying his time here."