Practice makes perfect for double act
IT took just 22 minutes for the Fernando Torres-Robbie Keane partnership to click into gear on Saturday.
But now Spain's Euro 2008 hero wants as many minutes on the pitch as he can manage with his new strike-partner so they can hone a double act which can terrorise the Premier League this season.
Torres scored after just 22 minutes of Saturday's impressive 4-0 romp at Ibrox, before making way at half-time for livewire youngster David Ngog.
Keane didn't manage to open his own goals account for the summer, but there were clear signs of the two strikers linking up effectively - and they will hope to build on that in Norway tonight.
The Reds face Valerenga, already 16 matches into their Norwegian League season and currently lying seventh in the 14-team Tippeligaen.
The Scandinavians should provide a decent test of Liverpool's fitness, and give the new strikeforce another opportunity to dovetail.
"I think with more training and more time on the pitch together we can do a lot of good things for Liverpool," said Torres.
"Everybody knows Robbie. He is a fantastic player and I think he will be a very important player for us. Our understanding was very good and I'm very happy with the result at Rangers on Saturday.
"We had only trained three days together, which isn't so much time, but we will have had three games on the pitch before the Premier League starts which will be important for us, while the understanding with Stevie is also important for Robbie and for me.
"I was a little bit tired on Saturday because I've only had one week's training, but I will be more or less fit for the start of the Premier League season.
"I hopefully want to win that trophy or maybe the Champions League."
Torres hit the ground running, with a goal in his first start of the pre-season programme.
Given an extended break after his Euro 2008 heroics, he enjoyed a 19 minute run-out at Villarreal before starting the impressive win at Ibrox.
"It has been a fantastic summer with Spain, but this is in the past now and I have to focus on Liverpool," he added.
After tonight's clash in Norway, Liverpool have a final pre-season friendly at Anfield on Friday night against Lazio, before the crucial Champions League qualifier in Belgium next week.
Boss Rafa Benitez is satisfied with the preparations of his squad so far.
"In defence we had one or two problems on Saturday which we sorted out in the second half and in attack we were really good," he said.
"We also had plenty of possession so it was good.
"I think the movement of Robbie and Fernando was good, also with Gerrard, Alonso, Yossi and Kuyt. All the offensive players worked hard."
With Valerenga in the middle of their own league season, what the Norwegians lack in quality - they were demolished 5-1 by mid-table rivals Molde a fortnight ago - they will more than make up for in fitness and sharpness.
Jamaican international Luton Shelton, the striker who scored the famous "balloon-gate goal" for Sheffield United against Manchester City in last season's FA Cup, joined the Tippeligaen side this summer for £1m.
The Valerenga website claimed: "Luton Shelton probably will be one of Tippeligaen's fastest players," while Blades boss Kevin Blackwell added: "Luton wasn't exactly what I was looking for. He was a bit of a maverick."
Former Manchester United defender Ronny Johnsen is also listed amongst the Norwegian side's playing staff.
Liverpool will only be missing their Olympic trio of Javier Mascherano, Ryan Babel and Lucas in Norway.
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