Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez believes striker
Fernando Torres is hitting top form at just the right time with a
trip to Manchester United looming on Sunday.
The Spain international's two goals in the 3-0 Europa League
victory over Lille took his tally to four in his last two matches,
having scored twice in Monday's 4-1 win over Portsmouth.
Torres now has 17 for the season, of which 15 have come in the
Barclays Premier League, from just 27 appearances having missed
five weeks after a knee operation.
Liverpool are on a three-match winning run against their
arch-rivals and Benitez believes with Torres looking close to his
deadliest best they have every chance of winning at Old Trafford
for the second successive year.
"He is a very good player and a good finisher and you could see
against Lille he made the difference," said the Liverpool
manager.
"When the other team were pushing they were a little bit long
and he had the space and he can beat anyone running and dribbling -
he is very good.
"When you are not playing well Fernando can sometimes make the
difference and when you are playing well you know Fernando,
(Steven) Gerrard or the other offensive players will be there."
Benitez tried to play down the obvious psychological advantage
Torres will have over Nemanja Vidic - the Serbian has been sent off
on his last three appearances against Liverpool - when the pair
meet again on Sunday but will privately hope that continues at Old
Trafford.
"When Fernando is fully fit he is a threat for all defenders and
can beat anyone," said the Reds boss. "Vidic is a good player with
experience so it will be tough for Torres."
Gerrard is convinced Torres, who celebrates his 26th birthday on
Saturday, will get even better. And the England midfielder admits
even someone with his experience is lifted by the sight of him
firing on all cylinders.
"There is lot more to come from Fernando in a Liverpool shirt,
believe me," said Gerrard. "He had been out a long time so it was
only natural that it was going to take him a few games to find his
rhythm but he is closing in on that now and it is fantastic for the
team.
"If we can keep him fit and firing, we'll have a really big
chance of achieving what we want to. "You could see against Lille
that he is looking sharp. The goals will have done him the world of
good.
"He is world class, it's as simple as that. When he is playing
like that, it doesn't just give the crowd a lift it lifts us and it
causes the players he comes up against to think twice about how
they deal with him.
"He's finding form at just the right time."
Gerrard was also among the goalscorers in last season's 4-1
victory at Old Trafford, helping break Benitez's four-year duck at
the home of their biggest rivals. And despite also beating them 2-0
at Anfield back in October the Reds captain knows United, chasing a
record-breaking 20th title to go past Liverpool's tally, will be a
difficult prospect.
"Every time you go to Old Trafford, you expect a tough game but
we are going in on the back of two good performances," he told the
Liverpool Echo. "This will be a completely different game. They are
the league leaders but we will give it a really good go."
Midfielder Alberto Aquliani, who missed last night's victory
through illness, returned to training on Friday but could still be
doubtful for Old Trafford.
The Italy international put in a man-of-the-match performance,
scoring his first Liverpool goal, in the 4-1 Premier League victory
over Portsmouth on Monday but then was struck down with a
virus.
"Alberto did some light training for us today so hopefully he
will be ready for the weekend," assistant manager Sammy Lee told
liverpoolfc.tv.
"We don't know at this moment in time if he will be available
but we have still got 72 hours to the match so hopefully he will be
ready for us."
