Liverpool Football Club News

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Toffees told to fear Torres

22 Jan 2009 - 11:26:44

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Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has warned Everton that Fernando Torres is showing signs of recapturing his best form ahead of the Merseyside derby.

Torres started Monday's 1-1 Premier League derby draw - his first start since injuring his hamstring in November - and gained some much-needed match-fitness.

But despite failing to find the net, Benitez believes the Spain striker is showing signs of rediscovering his best form just in time for the FA fourth-round meeting at Anfield.

"I was impressed with him on Monday. It is not easy to play in a derby when it is so intense. He was exhausted at the end but he did well," Benitez told the club's official website.

"He is very close to full fitness - now it's just about getting match fitness. He needs to play games.

"You know a striker needs to play games and be in front of the goal a few times. That's the key - getting the confidence.

"The more chances you get the more likely you are to start scoring goals. Hopefully he can score this weekend."

Meanwhile, Benitez expects his side to learn from their mistakes after conceding a late equaliser in the league meeting with the Toffees.

Tim Cahill's close-range header from Mikel Arteta's free-kick denied the Reds the three points they needed to return to the top of the table.

"We have talked about both things. We had to be careful and not commit silly fouls, and then after we had to defend the set-piece," he continued.

"Okay, we made the mistake and maybe we can learn from it for the future.

"Clearly we have talked about this. The players realise that we have to improve. But we are not conceding too many goals and it is always going to seem worse when you concede such an important goal in a derby.

"We work on these things every week, practising set-pieces for and against."