Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez believes 28-goal Fernando Torres will be the inspiration for another European triumph against the odds The Reds will need their 23-year-old talismanic frontman at his very best when they face Arsenal at the Emirates on Wednesday in the first-leg of their Champions League quarter-final.
Few pundits make them favourites to progress in the competition against Arsene Wenger's aristocrats, but the Gunners are on a run of shaky form heading into the clash.
Benitez will point to shock European successes against Inter Milan, Juventus, AC Milan, Chelsea, Barcelona and Marseille when the chips were down to reinforce Liverpool's case.
And it is Torres, their £20million hitman, that Liverpool will look to for the goals that could fire them into their ninth European Cup semi-final, and third in four seasons.
Skipper Steven Gerrard said earlier this week that as long as Liverpool give Torres the ball, they believe he will always score.
That belief comes from Benitez too.
He said: "Fernando knows he is a key player for us, and he knows that if we play well, he will score goals.
"Three times now in a week we play Arsenal, twice in Europe and on Saturday in the league, and I would expect Fernando to work just as he has done before.
"This, though, is Europe and I know he wants to play well and score more goals.
"The partnership between Gerrard and Torres is improving with every game. On the pitch they understand each other perfectly, they are both clever players and a it is easy for them to work together.
"Although of it maybe Fernando has some trouble with Steven's scouse accent!"
Benitez, who has only Daniel Agger and Harry Kewell missing ahead of the match, added: "It is the understanding on the pitch between Fernando and Stevie that is the key, and everyone can see how good that has become.
"The players believe Fernando will score, always. They have trust that if they get the ball to him and create chances for him, he will score.
"Stevie has said as much this week, and he is the closest to him; he can see the quality and ability from close quarters.
"He knows just how dangerous Fernando is. Not only in training sessions, but Stevie has seen Torres score 28 goals and he is impressed, he is giving credit that is due and we can all see it.
"Maybe he is better than when he was in Spain. It is different for him here, in Madrid he was going out wide to receive the ball, he was working hard to receive the ball.
"He was having to go at defenders from different positions. But here he has Gerrard close by, so he can stay higher up the pitch and wait for the passes, that has seen him score more goals."
Liverpool have won five successive European games, scoring 19 in the process, and Benitez believes Torres has the temperament to keep that run going against the Gunners.
"Torres scores in big matches. Against Inter Milan, and also Porto and Marseille in Europe, plus important goals against Chelsea and Everton, he has scored against them all.
"He is so competitive and with a very good mentality. Against the top sides you must be focused and confident in yourself.
"He can do this, because if you do not show that attitude against the very top defenders, things become very difficult. But Torres can handle the big occasion.
"Arsenal have a fine style and will play that way. But they know Torres is scoring goals, he is on fire and he will be a big problem for their defenders."
And because Liverpool have so often confounded the critics with European displays far superior to their domestic form, Benitez feels that his team believe they can reach another final.
He said: "Our players believe this trophy is now the most important because it is something they can win. So the determination of the players will be very high.
"There is great respect between the players because they know each other well, so the games could be very exciting."
Benitez will clearly use the 'G&T' double act of Gerrard and Torres as the tonic to inspire Liverpool, and he disagrees with the theory that he will be ultra-defensive in north London.
He said: "We have scored 100 goals this season, which is not bad! When people sometimes say we are defensive, what they really mean is that we are good in defence and also good in attack. "The key to progressing past Arsenal will be to work really hard as a team in defence, because we will be playing against a team that is very offensive. After that it is about determination and going forward to try to win.
"They play very offensively and it's very attractive for the supporters. These are the positive things. When they attack and attack, they have problems in defence, but that is normal. "Our idea is to win and score. It's always important to get an away goal in this type of competition."
He added: "When we play in Europe we have a lot of confidence, and we are playing against Arsenal who people forget we beat 4-1 at Anfield last season. They only mention the cup defeats.
"We can beat them if we do our job and we work as hard as we were working before."
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