Football Magazine News

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."