Fernando Torres can bring title to Anfield - Dirk Kuyt
DIRK KUYT hailed Fernando Torres as the 'best striker in the world' after his winner gave Liverpool an opening day 1-0 win at Sunderland on Saturday.
And the Dutchman claims his individual brilliance can inspire Liverpool to the Premier League title in a similar vein to Cristiano Ronaldo's role for Manchester United last season.
The Portuguese star's prolific marksmanship led United to a 17th League Championship in May, putting the Old Trafford club just one behind Liverpool's all-time record
But having ended Spain's 44-year trophy drought by netting the winning goal against Germany in the Euro 2008, Torres has been tipped to be the man to bring the title back to Anfield for the first time in 19 years.
Kuyt said: "Can he get title for Liverpool as Ronaldo did last season? Why not? Of course they are different players, he comes in from the side but Fernando is a real striker he has everything to be the best player this season.
"There was nothing on when he got the ball but he scores a few goals like that. He is always looking for the target and as soon as he gets space to shoot he shoots and often scores.
"He is a megastar now but not only is he a great striker but also a great personality, he is just the same on the pitch, in the dressing room, outside the game.
"Off the pitch he is just a normal guy, just one of us but on the pitch he is different. He is something special.
"The partnership (with Robbie Keane) is getting better and if you are good players like those two it does not need much time, they will get used to each other, it is just about feeling and I am sure the partnership will grow and grow."
Having broken Ruud van Nistelrooy's goalscoring record for a foreign striker in his debut Premier League campaign, netting 24 times last season, and having increased his reputation on the international stage in Austria and Switzerland this summer, Torres is now the best in the world in his position according to Kuyt.
He said: "Fernando played wonderfully at the Euros as well and always when you need him he takes very important goals.
"He is a top quality players and for me he is the best striker in the world. If you are speaking about a real striker, he is the pinnacle, he is everything, Not only in normal games but more often that not in special games."
The fledgling partnership of Torres and Keane sees Kuyt continuing in a right-wing role rather than the central striking position he was brought to Anfield to play but he insists that he is happy to keep operating on the flank.
He said: "The most important thing is to contribute to the team and play regularly. It doesn't matter that much if I am playing up front or behind the strikers or on the right.
"I played the last 15 games on the right last season and enjoyed it because we were getting good results and if I stay there and we start winning some trophies I will be happy.
"The most important thing is to be in the team and if Robbie and Fernando are scoring the goals and are the top scorers in the league I will be happy to get the assists. That would be great because for me scoring goals is not the most important thing. It is not always about scoring goals.
"As a Dutchman I grew up watching van Basten and Gullit and they were the best players and he is as good as them."
Meanwhile, manager Rafael Benitez said: "It was a difficult game in the first half. We were a bit under pressure. They controlled the game. They didn't have clear chances but we were under pressure but we had plenty of possession and sustained attacks in the second half.
"It was a top strike (from Torres). The team needed to play well to keep a clean sheet too. The second half was much better."
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