Liverpool legend Tommy Smith has dubbed Fernando Torres the equal of any Anfield striker of the past 50 years.
Smith watched Torres avenge 43 years of hurt for the midfield hard man, scoring the goal that beat Inter Milan in the San Siro on Tuesday and sent Liverpool into the Champions League quarter-finals.
Back in 1965, the last time Liverpool played at the San Siro, Smith was part of a side who lost an infamous European Cup semi-final to Inter, amid allegations of bribery that persist to this day.
But Torres' second-half strike wiped away the bitterness of that defeat for Smith, who believes the Spaniard is destined to become a Liverpool great.
Smith said: "Torres is up there with the best Anfield strikers of the past 50 years.
"I played alongside Roger Hunt, who was a tremendous player and could score from anywhere - a bit like Torres, who is one of the best I have seen in a red shirt.
"In the 70s, you had Kevin Keegan, a good link player who was always on hand to accept chances.
"And Ian Rush had a great time scoring for the Reds in partnership with Kenny Dalglish. I always said when he was sold to Juventus that they forgot to take Dalglish, too, because he made so many of Rushie's goals.
"Torres has a special ingredient we have not seen for some time. He has the ability to glide past defenders with effortless pace and often places the ball home rather than use power. What a talent!"
Boss Rafael Benitez paid close more than £20million for Torres last summer and is delighted with the impact the 26-goal hitman has had.
He said: "Fernando, he is improving, we all know he can get better. But he is doing his job very well for us, and I am really happy with him.
"Our form is coming right at just the right time of the season. Now we must keep it going to secure fourth spot, also."
Of Friday's draw, Benitez said: "I would be happy to play another English team in the final.
"I would prefer that we were drawn against a non-English team now, though, because everyone knows that the top three in the Premier League are all outstanding, very strong.
"The fact that four English clubs are in the quarter-finals shows that the Premier League is one of the best leagues in Europe and the world.
"The quality of the top four, the quality of the players, shows our league is very strong."
Smith watched Torres avenge 43 years of hurt for the midfield hard man, scoring the goal that beat Inter Milan in the San Siro on Tuesday and sent Liverpool into the Champions League quarter-finals.
Back in 1965, the last time Liverpool played at the San Siro, Smith was part of a side who lost an infamous European Cup semi-final to Inter, amid allegations of bribery that persist to this day.
But Torres' second-half strike wiped away the bitterness of that defeat for Smith, who believes the Spaniard is destined to become a Liverpool great.
Smith said: "Torres is up there with the best Anfield strikers of the past 50 years.
"I played alongside Roger Hunt, who was a tremendous player and could score from anywhere - a bit like Torres, who is one of the best I have seen in a red shirt.
"In the 70s, you had Kevin Keegan, a good link player who was always on hand to accept chances.
"And Ian Rush had a great time scoring for the Reds in partnership with Kenny Dalglish. I always said when he was sold to Juventus that they forgot to take Dalglish, too, because he made so many of Rushie's goals.
"Torres has a special ingredient we have not seen for some time. He has the ability to glide past defenders with effortless pace and often places the ball home rather than use power. What a talent!"
Boss Rafael Benitez paid close more than £20million for Torres last summer and is delighted with the impact the 26-goal hitman has had.
He said: "Fernando, he is improving, we all know he can get better. But he is doing his job very well for us, and I am really happy with him.
"Our form is coming right at just the right time of the season. Now we must keep it going to secure fourth spot, also."
Of Friday's draw, Benitez said: "I would be happy to play another English team in the final.
"I would prefer that we were drawn against a non-English team now, though, because everyone knows that the top three in the Premier League are all outstanding, very strong.
"The fact that four English clubs are in the quarter-finals shows that the Premier League is one of the best leagues in Europe and the world.
"The quality of the top four, the quality of the players, shows our league is very strong."
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