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