Rafael Benítez, the Liverpool manager, is banking on Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres to pull his side out of their worrying slide. The pair scored 53 goals between them last term but this season they have frequently been kept apart by the Spaniard's persistent injury problems.
However, Benítez believes his fellow Spaniard "is almost back to his best" and there was a glimpse of his talent in their FA Cup fourth-round draw with Everton to prove it. Torres's juggling act and backheel to send Gerrard through for the equaliser in the 1–1 draw was the high point of the 210th Merseyside derby.
Benítez knows he needs both his best players firing on all cylinders with Liverpool's season threatening to come off the rails. Liverpool have lost only two of 34 games this season and are unbeaten in their last 14, 11 of them in the Premier League. But six of those 11 have been draws and they have lost top spot to Manchester United.
"We know the understanding between both was crucial last season, it will be again this season now they are back together again," Benítez said. "In some games they can kill defenders with their skills. The goal they created was excellent against Everton in the Cup.
"The piece of skill from Torres to create the goal shows that he is getting very close to his best again. He showed that the understanding between him and Gerrard will be crucial for us for the rest of the season. What he did to send Gerrard away is something you do not see from many players. He certainly needed a good runner to get on the end of it.
"Fernando also needed to be aware of where Gerrard was, to see him and to find him with the ball. It was certainly something very special."
So far this term Gerrard has led the way in the scoring charts – his equaliser yesterday was his 15th of the campaign – while Torres has been restricted to six goals so far because of his injury problems.
Benítez also credited Gerrard for his focus after a recent court appearance. Another hearing is scheduled for 20 March. "Steven is such an important player. People have been asking a lot about him and how he is handling things, but on the pitch he is showing that he is focused only on showing how good he is."
Gerrard played down his own contribution in difficult circumstances – his two derby goals were separated by his court appearance on Friday to answer charges of assault and affray, which he denies.
He said: "It is not just my goals, I am pleased with my performances this week. I am a footballer and will focus on that, I will continue to show that."
Of his equaliser, Gerrard said: "The key was that piece of skill from Fernando Torres, which is what he is all about. He is not just a goalscorer, he has fantastic awareness. We can do without the replay, both sides probably feel the same, but if we play as well as we did in this game in the replay at Goodison Park, we will win."
However, Benítez believes his fellow Spaniard "is almost back to his best" and there was a glimpse of his talent in their FA Cup fourth-round draw with Everton to prove it. Torres's juggling act and backheel to send Gerrard through for the equaliser in the 1–1 draw was the high point of the 210th Merseyside derby.
Benítez knows he needs both his best players firing on all cylinders with Liverpool's season threatening to come off the rails. Liverpool have lost only two of 34 games this season and are unbeaten in their last 14, 11 of them in the Premier League. But six of those 11 have been draws and they have lost top spot to Manchester United.
"We know the understanding between both was crucial last season, it will be again this season now they are back together again," Benítez said. "In some games they can kill defenders with their skills. The goal they created was excellent against Everton in the Cup.
"The piece of skill from Torres to create the goal shows that he is getting very close to his best again. He showed that the understanding between him and Gerrard will be crucial for us for the rest of the season. What he did to send Gerrard away is something you do not see from many players. He certainly needed a good runner to get on the end of it.
"Fernando also needed to be aware of where Gerrard was, to see him and to find him with the ball. It was certainly something very special."
So far this term Gerrard has led the way in the scoring charts – his equaliser yesterday was his 15th of the campaign – while Torres has been restricted to six goals so far because of his injury problems.
Benítez also credited Gerrard for his focus after a recent court appearance. Another hearing is scheduled for 20 March. "Steven is such an important player. People have been asking a lot about him and how he is handling things, but on the pitch he is showing that he is focused only on showing how good he is."
Gerrard played down his own contribution in difficult circumstances – his two derby goals were separated by his court appearance on Friday to answer charges of assault and affray, which he denies.
He said: "It is not just my goals, I am pleased with my performances this week. I am a footballer and will focus on that, I will continue to show that."
Of his equaliser, Gerrard said: "The key was that piece of skill from Fernando Torres, which is what he is all about. He is not just a goalscorer, he has fantastic awareness. We can do without the replay, both sides probably feel the same, but if we play as well as we did in this game in the replay at Goodison Park, we will win."
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