Fernando Torres has lavished praise on ex-teammate Steven Gerrard, discussing how the former Liverpool captain helped him ‘complete’ his game during his time at Anfield.
The former Spain international moved to Liverpool in club-record deal from Atletico Madrid in 2007, enjoying a prolific three-and-a-half year stay on Merseyside, scoring 81 goals in just 142 appearances in all competitions.
Torres played arguably the best football of his career during that electric spell at Liverpool, striking up a brilliant understanding with club captain Gerrard that almost delivered Rafael Benitez’s side the Premier League title in 2009.
The man known as ‘El Nino’ has previously described Gerrard as the best player he ever played alongside, and says the midfielder helped to ‘complete’ his game following his high profile switch to English football.
“I was a big fan of Gerrard before I joined Liverpool,” Torres told Liverpoolfc.com.
“Everybody in football feels this way about Gerrard. So to have the chance to play with him was a big point for me to come to Liverpool as well.
“It was the first time I realised I needed something to complete my game – and Gerrard had everything that I needed. It was really easy to play with him.
“Sometimes you’re watching the game and predicting something that can happen, and you see something your teammates don’t see. But it would happen with him. He saw the same things I saw. So I just needed to run.
“When I saw the ball was going to finish at his feet, I started the run and I knew he would see the movement I was doing before looking at me. It was so easy. I really enjoyed that time, I miss it a lot.”
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