Torres offers long-term commitment

Becoming an Anfield legend is not something that can be achieved overnight but Fernando Torres is rapidly achieving hero status at Liverpool and the Spaniard hopes to be at the club for a long time to come.

His dazzling first season has seen him bag 30 goals thus far, but he feels he has some way to go before he can compared to the Anfield greats, following his record-breaking switch from Atletico Madrid last summer.

Asked today if he would like to remain a Liverpool player for the rest of his career, he replied: "I hope so.

"I feel very confident here. If we can win trophies, then much better. This is my team, my city and Anfield is my pitch. I feel very good," he told LFC TV.

Torres has been compared to previous Reds striking greats Ian Rush and Robbie Fowler, and his productive partnership with Steven Gerrard has also created flashbacks to Rush's pairing with Kenny Dalglish.

"I'm very proud. But now is not the moment," Torres added. "Kenny, Robbie and Stevie (Gerrard) have a lot of trophies, a lot of titles and they have played hundreds of games for the club. They have been legends for lots of years.

"This is only my first season at Liverpool and I want to play better for many more seasons yet. So far I've had one good season but Kenny and Robbie have had six, seven, eight or 10 good seasons at Liverpool. It's different.

"When I have finished my career then maybe that will be the moment to talk about these things but not now. It's too early.

"It's important to me that the fans think highly of me and if they're saying these things then I would say 'thank you, but not yet'.

"I think they love me and I love them. It's great when kids and their granddads come up to me in the street and say 'you're the best'."

Torres' comments will warm the hearts of his already adoring public but he may achieve legendary status sooner than he thinks if he can help Liverpool to a result in Stamford Bridge tonight and a European Cup final meeting with Manchester United.