STEVEN GERRARD believes an on-form Fernando Torres can fire Liverpool back into the top four after the Spaniard's dramatic last-gasp winner at Aston Villa.

Torres struck in the third minute of injury time to ensure Rafael Benitez's side signed off 2009 with a crucial 1-0 victory over the Midlanders in dreadful wintry conditions.

Having beaten Wolverhampton Wanderers at the weekend, it secured back-to-back Premier League victories for the first time since September and moved Liverpool two points behind Villa and within five points of the Champions League qualification places.

It also made Torres the quickest player in the club's history to score 50 league goals after reaching the landmark in his 72nd top-flight appearance.

And a delighted skipper Gerrard said: “You have to keep going until the end and when you have guys like Fernando in your team you always know there is a chance to snatch it.

“Everyone knows when he is on form he is the best in the world. We want him to score many more goals like that and drive us into the top four We are hoping this win gives us a big boost. We want to treat the next game like this one. This means nothing on its own.

“Villa, Spurs and Man City are going to keep fighting all the way and we need to do the same. It's important to build on this and I'm sure we will build on this.

“We've virtually got everybody back fit so there's no excuses. The top four will be difficult, I'm sure teams will spend in January so it'll go right to the end.”

Torres, who has now netted 12 goals in 15 Premier League appearances this season, said: “When you play a good team like Villa it's always a tough game. But we are closer to the top four now. It was a massive game for us. The form of the team was very good.

“Last season we scored plenty of goals in injury time and we have done that again tonight. It's the confidence boost we needed. We need to win games in a row and we are getting close to the form we had last season.”

Despite his ongoing rehabilitation from a long-standing groin problem, Torres played the full 90 minutes for the second time in four days.