Football Magazine News

The Spain forward has bagged 32 goals in a remarkable first campaign in England, including the winner on Sunday in Liverpool's final home game of the season against Manchester City.

And Torres, runner-up in the PFA and Football Writers' Footballer of the Year polls last week, has now equalled the 23 goals record of Ruud van Nistelrooy - the highest number by a foreigner in his first season in the Premier League.

Fernando Torres might have had an outstanding debut season at Anfield, scoring 32 goals including the winner against Manchester City on Sunday.

Rafa Benitez, though, thinks that his countryman will have to work harder next season as he’s no longer an unknown quantity.

"Fernando has been amazing, and he has reached that total without any penalties," the Reds boss noted.

"Clearly it will be more difficult for Torres next season; defenders will have watched him and will work on stopping him.

"But he can improve even from this. He has a strong mentality and he can cope with what defenders do.

"It will not be easy to score this many goals again - obviously it will be more difficult for him.

"But if he scores a good number of goals and his team-mates - five of whom have scored 10 or more this season - also improve and increase their number of goals, it will be OK for us."

Anfield

Liverpool have only lost one game this term when Torres has scored, and that - sadly for Benitez and Reds supporters - was last week's Champions League semi-final exit at Chelsea.

The hitman has scored a staggering 21 goals at home this season and Rafa admits that the historic old Stadium helps get the best out of his troops.

"The winner against City was another good goal for Fernando, and he has produced an amazing number of goals without penalties," Benitez continued.

"It is fantastic for the club now and in the future; he will score many more.

"Fernando has scored a lot of his goals at Anfield, but all of our squad enjoy playing here. It is a fantastic atmosphere and he is enjoying his time here at Anfield and in England, and hopefully it will be the same next season."

Duncan Robertson, Goal.com

Chelsea take on Kevin Keegan's Magpies at St James' Park this afternoon knowing that if they lose o the resurgent Geordies they will effectively hand the Premier League trophy to rivals Manchester United.

"This year we will keep going and we want to take it to the last day," said the 26-year-old England midfielder.

"If we can win and take it to the last Sunday then it is squeaky bum time as the famous man once said."

That phrase was once used by Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson to describe the nervousness of the title run-in, and Cole is confident he will be able to produce his best form, and thst Chelsea can push the Red Devils all the way.

"I have played a lot of football and my last few games I haven't been at my best - but I want to come back to my best in this game and get the points," said Cole.

Chelsea can point to a better away record this season than either United or third-placed Arsenal. And their hopes of overtaking United at the death are resting on their ability to take something away from Tyneside today. That won't be straightforward, as Newcastle are unbeaten in seven games. Yet Cole is confident Chelsea can come away with victory.

"We have good resilience and we find it easy to play when teams come out at us," he said. "Hopefully with the position Newcastle are in, they will come at us and it will be a high-scoring game and another three points for us.

"In front of their own fans they are going to want to play and there are a couple of old Man United players in there who are going to want to do their old mates some favours - but we just have to keep going and get the job done."

One of those former United players is Nicky Butt, who said he would love to see his old club pip Chelsea to the title.

Butt, 33, said: "I'm a great believer in playing football the right way. I'm not saying Chelsea don't, but it's more attractive to the eye watching United games.

"Football is about not losing and Chelsea have become masters at that. Obviously I'd love United to win it and it would be more of a highlight for the football purist if they did."


Mark Hinton, Goal.com