Dirk Kuyt: I can fill Liverpool FC void left by Fernando Torres

A few weeks ago Kuyt was being reminded constantly that he had not scored in the league since last November and had managed only one this campaign.

Since then he has scored in three successive matches for the first time in his Liverpool career, including three crucial Premier League goals.

Being asked to step into Torres' scoring boots has not bothered him one bit and there is every chance that Kuyt will be asked to lead the line in Madrid and at Stamford Bridge.

He said: "Fernando is very important for us and it was a big blow that he wasn't on the pitch. But I tried to do my job when the boss put me up front. I just intended on scoring goals for the team.

"It does not concern me what position I play. I have enjoyed being played on the right, and I just want to be important for the team.

"I just hope Fernando is back quickly, but whenever the boss wants me up front, I will be ready.

"I do not think of where I play when Fernando is back. I feel I have been important on the right, scoring goals and with a few assists. The most joy for me is that we are winning more games and are at the top of the table."

Kuyt's double maintained Liverpool's unbeaten home league record this year - they have lost just two of their last 58 home Premier League games - and this is their best start to a league campaign for 18 years.

He added: "I was delighted with my two but for me the most important thing is that we win games. Even if we did make it hard for ourselves.

"We did struggle a bit, but Fernando was not playing and several players were not 100% fit. The most important thing after being away on international duty, is that you win your next club match because they are always more difficult.

"In these kind of games you have to show character. And that is the massive improvement from last season because in similar circumstances then we may have drawn or even lost this one. We took another step along the road, a test really. We won while not being at our best.

"We knew that Chelsea were a few goals up when we started, so we knew we had to win to stay top with them.

"Chelsea winning so emphatically does not put more pressure on us. We know we have to win every game to keep in touch with them. We cannot allow anyone to get half a dozen points away from us.

"We saw that situation last season. We lost too many points at the beginning and that cost us dearly in the end."