Football - Liverpool FC: Torres return to form a warning to Manchester United - Benitez

Mar 19 2010 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

RAFAEL BENITEZ believes Fernando Torres has sounded a warning to Manchester United after firing Liverpool into the Europa League quarter-finals.

Torres scored two second-half goals as Benitez’s side overturned a first-leg deficit by beating Lille 3-0 at Anfield last night in their round of 16 tie.

It was Spaniard’s second brace in four days after he netted twice in the 4-1 win over Portsmouth on Monday night, and the perfect preparation for Sunday’s trip to Manchester United.

Torres scored in the 4-1 win at Old Trafford last year and also netted in the victory over Sir Alex Ferguson’s men at Anfield earlier this season.

And Benitez is convinced his star striker is close to his best form after a season hampered by a succession of injuries.

“Torres was working very hard with the physios with the fitness coach and we are really pleased with their work, they have done a fantastic job,” said the Liverpool manager. “You can see Fernando is fit, he can improve still but you only get match fitness from playing games. He lifts the other players. It makes a big difference when he is playing well and Gerrard is playing well too.

“I would like to say that he is 50% at the moment, I’d be pleased with that! But he is close to 100%. His match fitness is about playing games, he is very close now.”

Benitez added: “This is the momentum we needed going into the United game. We needed some confidence. We played well the other day against Portsmouth and did well tonight too. We have more confidence and hopefully we can get a result at Old Trafford.”

Steven Gerrard levelled the aggregate last night by netting from the spot in the ninth minute on his 300th game as Liverpool captain.

Torres put the Anfield outfit ahead for the first time in the tie on 49 minutes, but there were a few nervy moments before the Spaniard struck again in the final minute.

And Benitez said: “I was only really comfortable when the third went in. Clearly Lille are a good team, they have quality, they have some pace and they are really dangerous.

“So we needed to score the third goal and relax a little bit. It was a really good performance. The players were working very hard together, the fans were behind us pushing the team. It was a good night to enjoy.”

Joining Liverpool in today’s draw for the last eight are Fulham, Valencia, Standard Liege, Wolfsburg, Atletico Madrid, Hamburg and Benfica.

The build-up to the game had been overshadowed earlier in the day by Albert Riera’s outburst in which he criticised Benitez and referred to Liverpool as a “sinking ship”.

But when asked if last night’s performance suggested otherwise, Benitez said: “It’s very clear [it suggests otherwise]. Sometimes you don’t need to talk too much, just to see the players together on the pitch and how they work. They are trying to do their best with the fans behind them, it is a fantastic thing.”

Gerrard believes Liverpool have reacted in the right manner to the dressing down they received after the dismal defeat to Wigan Athletic just 10 days earlier.

“He is the manager and is allowed to criticise the team at the right time but the reaction has been superb,” said the skipper. “If you are a footballer and you are not looking forward to playing Man United then there is something wrong.

“We will look at that next and if we can build on this then we have a good chance of getting a result.”

Of the game, Gerrard added: “There were a few edgy moments late on but I think it’s normal to be anxious at 2-0. It was a perfect score for Lille because if they get one then they are through. But it was a superb performance from all the boys and we thoroughly deserved to go through.

“The fans got right behind us and it was important to get three goals. That was the aim because we knew they were dangerous and capable of scoring.”

Daniel Agger hobbled off in injury time after taking a kick on his calf, but is expected to be fit for Sunday.