Fernando Torres determined to keep on scoring for Liverpool
FERNANDO TORRES is determined that his recent barren spell in front of goal will be his last in a Liverpool shirt.
The Spaniard has suddenly shot to the top of the Premier League goal charts with two in each of the his last two league games, having not previously scored since the opening day winner at Sunderland.
That run of six games without a goal was double the length of his previous longest drought since he left Atletico Madrid for Anfield in the summer of 2007.
But after his double strikes inspired victories against Everton and Manchester City to keep Liverpool joint top of the league with Chelsea, the striker is confident he is close to being back to his best.
And he reckons that a gruelling Euro 2008 campaign, which ended with his winning goal for Spain in the final against Germany, and an early-season hamstring strain, are now well out of his system as he aims to remain in peak scoring form.
"I hope that was my worst run without scoring for Liverpool," said Torres. "I don't want to go that long again.
"I don't know exactly what my longest run is without a goal, but it's definitely longer than six games. At Madrid it was sometimes difficult
for me. During my first year we finished mid-table and it was tough to score so I went a long time without doing so. Here it is different because this is a really big club. We are challenging at the top of the table and competing for trophies, so six games is too many.
"Me and the other players from the Euros started back in pre-season later than everyone else and as a result we weren't in the best physical shape.
"Last year was very long for me. I played nearly 50 games with Liverpool and then straight to the Euros, where we stayed right to the end.
"But me, Pepe, Xabi and Arbeloa are getting better each day and I'll soon be 100% again."
Torres's injury, which he sustained in the 0-0 draw at Aston Villa, kept him out of the 2-1 victory over Manchester United at Anfield last month.
But although he was frustrated to sit out English football's top club fixture, he was encouraged by the fact that neither him nor Steven Gerrard had to be in the starting line-up to effect a victory over the champions.
"The most important thing from that game was the fact we could win without me or Stevie," added Torres." That proves how strong the squad is now.
"It's not just about two, three or four players.
"It's a real team and we proved that by beating United. We know we can do it against any opponent."
Indeed, Torres is not focused on personal targets such as bettering the 33-goal haul of his debut season in England last year.
He would be happy with 20 if it meant Liverpool could win a major trophy, something they have failed to do in the past two seasons.
But with his Euro 2008 triumph still fresh in the memory, Torres is confident that the winning momentum he and his fellow Spaniards built up over the summer can carry through to Anfield.
"It was a great experience and the first big honour I've won," Torres added. "Now I know how it feels to win something like that, it makes me even hungrier to win trophies with Liverpool.
"I came here for that and hope this season will be better than last year. I believe we can win the Premier League or the Champions League and if we did that, it'd be fantastic.
"All the teams have different styles but are equally as effective. I think the four biggest teams in England are also now the best in Europe.
"We have a good chance of doing well, but it won't be easy to finish above the other three (United, Arsenal, Chelsea).
"But I'd be happy with just 20 goals if we won the Premier League or Champions League."
Meanwhile, Liverpool winger Albert Riera has earned a Spain recall for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Estonia and Belgium.
Riera's last appearance for Spain came during the March 26 friendly win over Italy but Vicente Del Bosque has selected him in place of the injured Diego Capel.
Read the full interview with Fernando Torres in this week's LFC Magazine.
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