Xabi Alonso believes Torres will be fine

Xabi Alonso has assured Spain fans ahead of their quarter final clash with Paraguay – Fernando Torres will hit the right notes soon.

The Liverpool striker, still searching for full match fitness after injury, has yet to score in Spain’s first four matches.

But former club colleague Alonso is convinced it’s only a matter of time before Torres starts firing on all cylinders.

"Fernando is working really hard," Alonso told said. “Strikers are valued for their goals. Hopefully an important one will come soon enough.

“He plays most of the time on his own between two central defenders. It's not easy but we're really confident that he'll score soon."

Fabregas supports Fernando Torres

Spain midfielder Cesc Fabregas has become the latest figure in the Iberian unit to voice his support for out-of-form striker Fernando Torres. Coach Vicente del Bosque had insisted on Thursday that he would back the Liverpool striker despite his disappointing form in the World Cup finals in South Africa and on the eve of their quarter-final clash with Paraguay, Fabregas has also expressed his support for Torres. "This boy is accustomed to this kind of situation. He's accustomed to all these situations because he's been under pressure ever since he was a little boy," Fabregas has been quoted by FIFA as saying. "He is very much at ease and I think tomorrow he will have a possibility to showcase his talents to see whether he can take this team to the highest possible ranks." Fabregas himself has played a minor role for the European champions at the World Cup but he seemingly doesn't mind playing in bits and pieces for the team. "The important thing is motivating yourself and believing that you will make it to the pitch, that you will be important during the match and you are really strong for the team. "Because today, perhaps you play, perhaps you don't play. You must be able to feel that you will be able to do something in the match. If you are not being fielded, you must celebrate with your friends and enjoy it."

Manchester City want F.Torres and Gerard

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini would be interested in a move for Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard and Javier Mascherano if Liverpool finish outside the top four this season and are forced to sell their top assets.

Financial concerns already haunt Liverpool and a failure to make the Champions League next season may have their top players looking for moves.

Mascherano was close to signing for Barcelona in the summer.

Mancini is quoted in the Sun as saying: “If they put Steven Gerrard, Javier Mascherano and Fernando Torres on the market, City will be interested.

“We at City will do everything possible to prevent Liverpool from finishing fourth.”

The cost of signing Gerrard and Torres would easily top £100m but Manchester City’s Abu Dhabi based owners would have no problem meeting any demand Liverpool might make.

And before then, Mancini will dip in to the transfer market in January to bolster his defensive options.

“In defence I have so many out injured that there will be some coming and the same in midfield. In attack we don’t have problems,” he said.

Should City break into the Champions League their ability to attract star names would increase, with Mancini’s former players Maicon and Zlatan Ibrahimovic coveted by the Italian.

“If City finish in the top four we will look for players of the highest level,” he said. “I would like to have Maicon. With Ibra there’s always been a rapport of great loyalty.

“He’s world class. Which manager in the world wouldn’t like Ibrahimovic?

“City is the best club in the world for an ambitious manager.

“There are very, very good players there but we must improve as it won’t be easy to get to the top four.”

Fernando Torres:Time to step up

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres has demanded his team-mates 'step up a gear' in the Premier League title race.

The Reds were overtaken by fierce rivals Manchester United at the table's summit on Saturday as Dimitar Berbatov struck late on to sink Bolton at the Reebok Stadium.

Chelsea's last-gasp victory over Stoke also piled the pressure on Rafa Benitez's side - who drew with Stoke in their last outing - ahead of Monday's crunch Merseyside derby.

And Torres, who is expected to start his first game for the Reds since returning from a hamstring injury when Everton arrive at Anfield, has urged his colleagues to improve their performances.

"This year there is a clear sense that the league is our target," Torres said in the Sunday Mirror.

"The only way is to have confidence in yourselves - maybe by stringing three or four wins together.

"You also have to remember the next few weeks will go a long way to deciding how the season pans out. Now is really the time to step up a gear."

Fernando Torres High Quality Photos

Match Report:Marseilles 1-2 Liverpool [Champions League] [Highlights]

Steven Gerrard came to Liverpool's rescue in Europe once again with both goals in a 2-1 victory over Marseilles in their opening Champions League Group D match.
Trailing in the Stade Velodrome, the Liverpool captain collected a square pass from Dirk Kuyt just outside the penalty area after 26 minutes and produced a wonderful first-time curling shot which dropped into the far corner of the net. It was a marvellous goal and could hardly have been better placed.
Gerrard added a second on the half-hour, converting a twice-taken penalty after Ryan Babel had been felled in the area for what turned out to be the winner.
Marseilles had gone in front after 23 minutes, Lorik Cana being allowed to run unchecked and collect a through-ball after Javier Mascherano had pushed up hoping for an offside flag.

Marseille vs Liverpool Highlights 1-2 UEFA Champions League 16.09.08

Torres, Gerrard could be fit for Man United match

Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard have resumed light training and could be fit for Liverpool's match with Manchester United next week.
Manager Rafa Benitez said Thursday the duo could be back in 10 days, putting them in contention for the Sept. 13 Premier League game.
Torres tore a hamstring Sunday, while Gerrard is recovering from a minor groin operation last week.
"Both players are now back jogging and will be out for 10 to 12 days," Benitez said. "Gerrard might be back before Torres but you never know."

Match Report: Liverpool 2-1 Middlesbrough [Premier League]

Keane and Torres showed that their training ground work was benefitting each other as they showed a lot more purpose and togetherness up front. What they hadn’t planned for was the impressive Boro rearguard who were repelling Liverpool’s attacking threat.

Teams:
Liverpool:Reina, Arbeloa (El Zhar 83), Carragher, Skrtel, Dossena (Aurelio 75), Kuyt, Gerrard, Alonso, Benayoun (Babel 65), Keane, Torres.
Middlesbrough:Turnbull, Wheater, Huth, Pogatetz, Taylor (Hoyte 75), Aliadiere, O’Neil, Shawky, Downing, Alves (Mido 60), Sanli (Digard 87).
Goals:Mido 70.,Pogatetz 86 og, Gerrard 90.
Photos:

Highlights:

Match Report:Spain 3-0 Denmark [Friendly]

Vicente Del Bosque made a winning debut as Spain coach Wednesday, with the European champion beating Denmark 3-0 in a friendly behind two goals from substitute Xabi Alonso.
Del Bosque replaced Luis Aragones after Euro 2008 in June, and saw Spain's unbeaten streak reach 23 games in his first match in charge.
Alonso came on for David Villa after halftime and gave the visitors the lead in the 50th minute with a volley from 10 yards out after taking a pass from Liverpool teammate Fernando Torres.
Xavi Hernandez made it 2-0 in the 73rd minute with a low shot past Denmark goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen, before Alonso added his second in injury time, slotting in a half-volley from close range after a pass from Diego Capel.
Denmark had controlled play in the first half, but Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas dived to save a shot from Daniel Jensen on a ball from veteran Jon Dahl Tomasson in the 11th minute.

Teams:
Denmark: Thomas Sorensen, Christian Poulsen, Martin Laursen, Daniel Agger, Michael Silberbauer, Lars Jacobsen (Jonas Borring, 71), Daniel Jensen (Martin Retov, 78), Martin Vingaard (Christopher Poulsen, 54), Jon Dahl Tomasson (Mikkel Thygesen 54), Dennis Rommedahl, Nicklas Bendtner.
Spain: Iker Casillas (Pepe Reina 75); Raul Albiol, Carles Puyol, Andres Iniesta (Santi Cazorla, 62), David Villa (Xabi Alonso 46), Xavi Hernandez, Fernando Torres (Daniel Guiza, 62), Joan Capdevila, Sergio Ramos (Andoni Iraola, 76) Marcos Senna (Diego Capel 46), David Silva.
Highlights:

Match Report:Sunderland 0-1 Liverpool [Premier League]

Fernando Torres powered Liverpool to a 1-0 win over Sunderland in their 2008-09 Premiership season-opener at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.
Teams:
Sunderland: Craig Gordon, Pascal Chimbonda, Danny Collins, Phillip Bardsley, Nyron Nosworthy, Teemu Tainio (Dean Whitehead 57), Andy Reid, Steed Malbranque (Carlos Edwards 74), Kieran Richardson, El-Hadji Diouf (Michael Chopra 81), Daryl Murphy.

Liverpool: Pepe Reina, Alvaro Arbeloa, Andrea Dossena, Jamie Carragher, Sami Hyypia, Yossi Benayoun (Fabio Aurelio 82), Dirk Kuyt, Steven Gerrard, Damien Plessis (Xabi Alonso 46), Fernando Torres, Robbie Keane (Nabil El Zhar 77).

Goal:Fernando Torres [82.min]
Highlights:

Rafa Benitez: Torres And Keane Will Live Up To Hype

Rafa Benitez made a press conference ahead of the first-leg of the crucial Champions League group stage qualifier against Standard Liege , Benitez said it will be only a matter of time before they start raining goals, so convinced is he of their ability both as individuals and as a unit.
"Keane and Torres are clever players, they scored plenty of goals last season and when they have played a lot more games together for us, they will score here too," said Rafa Benitez.
"These two strikers are top class, and they can be at the level of anyone in this competition. They will get better and better."They will need time. It has been a difficult summer with players arriving for training at different stages, but I have no worries about them in the future."
Benitez then turned his attention to the challenge at hand, warning that they will have their work cut out for them even though the Merseyside club are undoubtedly the hot favourites to triumph over two legs."Liege are in good form, they beat Anderlecht last weekend in the Belgian super cup, and last season in their league they barely lost a game and went over 30 without defeat at one stage," he said.
"They did not concede many goals, they have a strong defence and a quick attack. We must concentrate."

Torres is ready for Premier League Title

Fernando Torres had only been a European champion for a matter of hours when the Liverpool star consigned Spain's triumph to the history books and turned his attention to Anfield's own trophy drought.
Torres's typically clinical finish against Germany in Vienna sealed Spain's first international trophy for 44 years and capped a memorable season for the striker.
His stunning debut campaign with Liverpool had provided the perfect response to critics who questioned his ability to prosper at the highest level, and now he was the golden boy of Spanish football as well.
It was the first major medal of Torres's career but the 24-year-old isn't one to rest on his laurels.
With Spain's ghosts laid to rest, he set his sights on ending Liverpool's 18-year wait to win the English title.
"This is my first title and I hope it's the first of many," he said in the immediate aftermath of the Euro 2008 final.
After spending over a decade watching arch rivals Manchester United move to within one title of Liverpool's record 18 English championships, the Anfield faithful are growing increasingly restless.

Torres on target for Liverpool

Spanish hitman Torres was on target as Rafa Benitez's men enjoyed their biggest victory of pre-season.
This was the first time Benitez had paraded his £40million strikeforce of Torres and Keane together. And he was delighted with their performances.
Benitez said: “Both players showed good movement and so did Steven Gerrard.
“Dirk Kuyt and Yossi Benayoun were coming inside so I felt we had five offensive players, very clever and with quality so we were a threat all the time.
“Keane is very clever and he worked hard. He is very happy here and hopefully we will see a lot of good movement and also goals from him.
“Gerrard, Torres and Keane playing together was one of the keys to keeping possession.
“But I feel we have some good players in the team, different players with different qualities and a good mentality.”
David Ngog and Yossi Benayoun also found the net before Xabi Alonso sealed the win from the penalty spot.

Keane: Torres is perfect partner

Robbie Keane today stated that he is relishing the prospect of teaming up with Fernando Torres after completing his £20.3million move from Tottenham to Liverpool.
Keane, the 28-year-old Republic of Ireland captain, has agreed a four-year deal at Anfield and is now determined to establish a mouth-watering partnership in attack with Spain striker Torres.
"He has been a revelation since he came to the Premier League. He was absolutely outstanding last year and also in the Euros with Spain," said Keane this morning.
"It is hard to leave Tottenham with some of the players they had - like Dimitar Berbatov, who I had a great relationship with - but Torres is probably the best striker in the world
right now. Hopefully we can play a lot of games together and do well."
Keane, who will wear Liverpool’s famous number seven shirt, should play just off Torres in the Liverpool formation, and hopes to bridge the gap between midfield and Torres.
He said: "I see myself as a second striker. I can play off the shoulder, link things up and play in the hole.
“You are always judged on scoring goals as a striker and I have always scored a lot of goals. Hopefully I can continue that here at Liverpool."
The new Reds frontman turned down Liverpool as a 14-year-old in favour of joining Wolves, and is relieved the opportunity to join the club he supports came up again.
"The last four years have been great for me and I believe I am at my peak," he said.

Keane will love wearing the number seven shirt, famously worn by Anfield legends including Kenny Dalglish and Kevin Keegan.
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez revealed: "We were talking about the number, and the big names that have had this number, so it will be inspirational for him to have it too."
Benitez added: “We were looking for a player with game intelligence and good movement who could play alongside Torres.”
Keane is all set to make his Liverpool debut at Villarreal in a pre-season friendly tomorrow night.

Torres targets trophies

Torres scored the only goal of this summer's European Championship final to hand Spain victory over Germany in June and he is now eager for more success.
Liverpool have not lifted a trophy in two years and Torres - who joined the Reds last summer in a record-breaking move from Atletico Madrid - is hopeful he can help end that wait.
The 24-year-old netted 33 goals in his debut campaign in England and he is eager to repeat that form this term in order to repay the Anfield faithful for supporting Spain last month.

"Euro 2008 was my first major title, but I don't want it to end here," Torres, who returned to pre-season training with his club on Friday, said in the Daily Mirror.
"I want it to be the first of many titles because I want to win trophies with Liverpool. I know how much that would mean to the club and the fans.
"They gave me terrific support during Euro 2008 and I know they were cheering for Spain, which is something I will never forget."

Torres has also admitted his gratitude to Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez for aiding his development into one of Europe's most feared frontmen."The goals I scored for Liverpool last season gave me the confidence I need to take into the finals," added Torres.
"I have to thank Rafa and the staff for the help they have given me. I improved as a player because of them.
"Rafa is obsessed with details and he even had a (training) programme worked out for me before I got here last summer.
"He makes crazy demands on us. At the end of training when we're all tired he can still make us repeat routines 20 or 30 times."

Fernando Torres Wallpapers

Torres is clever on the ball

FOOTBALL star Fernando Torres has been showing off his ball juggling skills in the sun.
The Spanish striker, who scored the winner against Germany in the Euro 2008 final, has been celebrating with a break in the Bahamas.
And the adopted Scouser showed his true “Brit abroad” status by wearing a knotted hanky and snapping away at lovely girlfriend Olalla.
A fellow hotel guest said: “They’ve been a lovely couple, making sure they’re well creamed up with sunblock and spending lazy days by the beach taking pictures of each other.
“He is a lucky lad, she is gorgeous.”
The 24-year-old, bought for £20million last year from Atlético Madrid, will meet up with Liverpool teammates later this month to begin pre-season training ahead of the new season on August 16.

Torres Speaks To German Newspaper

Fernando Torres has spoken for the first time to respected German daily newspaper Wunter Under Meijer about how he didn't think his Liverpool career would be as happy as it has turned out.Torres explains that he quickly became disillusioned by post-match remarks by Rafa Benitez that he found ''bizarre''.''It was a bit strange alright. After the Chelsea game at Anfield, Rafa was praising my goal. It all sounded nice until he seemed to imply that I was using stimulants to enhance my game. The journalist asked Rafa if he thought I would cut it in the Premiership and Rafa said 'For sure, Fernando brings a lot to the team because he has Koala Tea and if we play with high tempo, the right mentality and create chances he will score goals, for sure'. I wasn't happy with his implications that I would take any stimulants or steal from a Koala bear but I bit my tongue.''But the perceived accusations from Benitez kept coming though, and Torres was getting more and more uncomfortable with it. ''I'd score another hat-trick and straight away Rafa would be in the media, saying things like I score because of my Koala Tea. Eventually though, I asked Xabi Alonso about it, and he told me that when Rafa says you have Koala Tea he doesn't mean it as an insult but as a compliment. I still to this day don't know what Koala Tea has to do with football, but Rafa sure does talk about it a lot.''

Torres credits coach

Fernando Torres said that Liverpool Coach Rafael Benítez was the inspiration behind his goal-scoring splurge, which helped Spain win Euro 2008.
Torres scored 33 goals in his first season at Liverpool, breaking Ruud van Nistelrooy’s record for goals scored by a foreigner in a debut Premier League season.
Torres, 24, said that Benítez’s relentless demands for improvement since he went to England from Atlético Madrid had been a catalyst in his career.
“There are days when you think, ‘My God, this guy doesn’t let you breathe,’ ” Torres told the club’s Web site on Saturday.
“At a club like Liverpool, you can’t sit back after scoring 20-odd goals and say, ‘Well, that’s it.’ After you score 20, Benítez is at you during the next training session and stays on top of you all day, all week.”
Torres was instrumental in helping Spain win its first major championship in 44 years, scoring the winning goal in last Sunday’s final against Germany. (AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE)

The Euro trophy still warm, Torres back in Liverpool

Life's no beach for the modern sporting professional. One week after the Euro 2008 final in Vienna, half a week after being feted in Madrid as the scorer of the goal that won Spain's first major soccer trophy in 44 years, Fernando Torres is focused again on improving himself in England.
It will be hard to top his first season at Liverpool, where he scored 33 times, a record for a foreign player entering the most physically demanding league of them all. Yet there is a manager waiting for him - as it happens, he is a Spaniard, Rafael Benitez - and Torres on Saturday told the club's Web site: "There are days when you think, my God, this guy doesn't let you breathe. After you score 20, Benitez is at it during the next training sessions, and stays on top of you all day, all week."
He added: "He tells you to go off and do new exercises. I want progress in life, not to relax, not be complacent, and sometimes you need someone telling you to keep at it. You don't always fancy someone that close but in the long term everybody will thank him for it."
So, the Spanish fiesta was as short as it was sweet. Luis Aragonés, the coach who orchestrated it, has flown, at 70 years of age, to start a fresh challenge in charge of Fenerbahce in Istanbul. The Barcelona trio of Xavi Hernández, Andrés Iniesta and Carles Puyol, their brief summer of unification with the Madrid players done and dusted, are headed back to a new setup, a new coach, a different, post-Ronaldinho approach to winning and not just entertaining.
Whither Ronaldinho? Nobody knows. He's 28, there are a few clubs who want, or can afford, to see if they might give him the fresh challenge, the hunger to display his talents. But the team he really wants to play for, AC Milan, is wary of his party image and seeks a loan deal, effectively a trial period before paying the millions Barça demands.