Since then Torres has scored 50 goals in 84 games for the club, and helped Spain to win the European Championship.

Injuries restricted the striker to 17 goals in the recently completed season, when he helped Liverpool to their first runners-up spot in the Premier League since 2002, and to a club-high 86 points since the re-branding of the top flight.

There has been praise for Torres from Liverpool’s record goalscorer, Ian Rush.

Welshman Rush, who gained a reputation in his playing days for being Liverpool’s first line of defence by hounding opponents in possession, said: "What I like about Torres is he doesn’t give defenders time to rest on the ball.

"If you close down the play like that, five times out of 10 the ball goes out of play and you’ve won it back. You’ve done your job.

"I believe there are strikers who are happy to score whether they win, draw or lose. Thierry Henry for example. But I was brought up at Liverpool knowing the team comes first, goals second.

"My job was to make it harder for the opposition. If I could win the ball I would close the defender down, which would make it easier for the midfield, who’d do the same for the defence.

"If you do it right, hopefully the goalkeeper doesn’t touch the ball. We worked as a unit and Torres does that now for Liverpool.

"The best strikers will adapt and think for themselves a bit quicker than anybody else. Torres does it at Liverpool now."