and he's been with us for exactly two years now. The offal is running a sort of tribute. Makes good reading...
"In terms of Torres, he could be up there with the greats of Liverpool, like Ian Rush." (Robbie Fowler)
"The things I would say most stand out about Torres are that he's one of the greatest players in the world, he's young and he's going to learn a lot, although he's already an eye-catching player." (Ronaldo)
"He is a world-class striker and he's probably up there with anyone now in striking terms. I only have to mark him in training, thankfully." (Jamie Carragher)
"I look at him and see myself in that bad-boy face. He's got a lot of character. There are plenty of talented players who don't have the desire that Torres has. Since I saw him make his debut, I've always said: this guy's the real thing. He's going to be the player of his generation for club and country." (Raul)
"Torres is outstanding. He was already like this but people in Spain didn't realise it until he went somewhere else - then they saw how great he was. He is a fantastic player with speed, power and great control. Torres can finish with his left foot or his right, and he's really cool in front of goal. Liverpool were crying out for a player like this to help them win the league and now they have it. There are a lot of amazing strikers in the Premier League but Torres at the moment has an edge on the others." (Thierry Henry)
"On form, he's in the top two or three strikers in the world for me. He's got skill and bags of pace and reads the game brilliantly." (Alan Shearer)
"For me Torres is one of the best players I've come up against in Spain, and he's one of the best forwards in Europe." (David Beckham)
"Torres poses a great threat to all defenders. We've seen over the past two years he is definitely one of the best in the world." (John Terry)
"I think, when I was here, we didn't have a player who could score 20 goals in a season. We were always trying to find it but there wasn't a player like Torres. What he has given to them is scoring a lot of goals in the Premier League and in the Champions League as well." (Luis Garcia)
Tommy Smith on Torres
"Torres is up there with the best Anfield strikers of the past 50 years. Roger Hunt 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."
"There are a lot of defenders at home and abroad who will be worried about facing Torres, and that could mean that we will see the onset of man-marking to curb him instead of the zonal defending that suits him down to the ground. It will be a case of 'wherever he goes, you go', but it still may not work." (Don Howe)
"Fernando Torres is capable of producing some magic and is an outstanding player. He's sharp, strong and his youthful looks are just a facade when it comes to his playing style – he's as physical and aggressive as some of the more hardened players people talk about." (David James)
"Fernando Torres is a forward's forward, and he gives a team depth. He's fast, direct and dangerous in the box. He's still very young but he's doing really well. He accepts responsibility and he has a great future." (Frank Rikjaard)
"He's an exceptional player, he's scored 33 goals and that's incredible for a first season. He's got everything you want in a centre forward. He's good in the air, quick, scores goals - a top player." (Jonathan Woodgate)
"Torres is up there with the best Anfield strikers of the past 50 years. Roger Hunt 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." (Tommy Smith)
"He's unpredictable, he scores unlikely, improbable goals, and he can score them in every way imaginable." (Luis Aragones)
"He is always trying to improve. People probably don't realise how much he looks at his own mistakes and tries to sort them out. He wants to be the best player in the world. It's that commitment, that unselfish personality, which makes him the player he is. He's already in the top three players in the world and of course he can be the best one day because he's still only 25. He has so much potential and is at the best club in the world. I would like to look like him as well! He takes care of himself!" (Pepe Reina)
"Fernando Torres has made an incredible improvement. Last year I saw him as a bit of a softie but then he went to the Premier League, where you can't be a softie, and he exploded." (Fabio Cannavaro)
"I think he is an excellent player. He is a typical No.9. He puts his head in where he knows he could get hurt. He's strong and he's deceptively quick." (Steve McManaman)
"What I like about him 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." (Ian Rush)
