Torres pays Gerrard tribute

Fernando Torres has paid tribute to Steven Gerrard's talismanic presence at Anfield as the Liverpool captain prepares to make his comeback from injury. Gerrard has been struggling with a slight hamstring tear that forced him off against Everton in an FA Cup clash on 4th February.Although there is an outside chance the midfielder could return against Manchester City on Sunday, a pencilled comeback against Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on 25th February is more likely.Torres, who has developed an almost telepathic understanding with his skipper, admits he cannot wait to get back in tandem with Gerrard."The news was that he would be out for three weeks, but we hope that he'll be back playing again sooner," said Torres in the Liverpool Echo."But you never know how things can turn out with a hamstring injury - and I speak from experience.Irreplaceable"It was a good sign that he asked to be substituted as soon as he felt the twinge, because if a hamstring goes completely, you don't get to walk off the pitch."I hope and wish that he will be back soon."Torres concedes Gerrard is the one player in Liverpool's ranks who is irreplaceable: "He has no natural replacement. "Every side has a main reference, a home-grown player, someone who lives and breathes the club."Other players come and go, but that player remains. Here, our reference player is Gerrard. Liverpool FC is Gerrard plus ten more. He's irreplaceable."

Source: SKY_Sports