Fernando Torres can't wait to line up alongside Luis Suarez at Liverpool
Former Reds striker ready for "emotional" Anfield return on Sunday... but is unsure what reception he will receive from home supporters
Torres scored 24 league goals in his debut season at Anfield
Fernando Torres can’t wait to play up front with Luis Suarez at Anfield on Sunday – but admits he is unsure what reception he will receive from Liverpool fans.
Torres is part of Steven Gerrard’s squad for the All-Star charity game against a team selected by former Reds team-mate Jamie Carragher.
The Spaniard netted 81 goals in 142 appearances for Liverpool before a controversial departure to Chelsea in January 2011 – the same time Suarez was arriving from Ajax as his intended strike partner.
Suarez is also part of Gerrard’s squad for the game organised by the Liverpool FC foundation, leading to the mouthwatering prospect of the duo finally taking to the Anfield pitch together albeit more than four years late.
Asked if he was looking forward to playing alongside Suarez, Torres said: “Of course.
“I saw what Luis did in his time at Liverpool and it was amazing, just amazing.
“Luis is a good friend – we have a good relationship and good friendship.
“We were sitting together for two days at Melwood when I was leaving and he was coming.
“We made good friends and we are still in touch now.
“I also know what it means to him to go back to Anfield and play there again. It will be great to play up front with him, especially with Stevie G behind us.”
Torres added: “I’m really looking forward to meeting some of my old team-mates, especially Stevie. I’m sure it’s going to be a great day and night for him.
“And also to meet Liverpool fans again; many times I have been back to Anfield as an opponent, but this time I’m going like part of the home team.
“It’s going to be a really emotional day for me.”
The contentious exit of Torres left a bitter taste in the mouth of many Liverpool fans, with the player regularly jeered when facing the Reds while playing for Chelsea.
The striker, though, has nothing but kind words for his former supporters – and if he scores on Sunday, will celebrate as if scoring for the Anfield side.
“Everybody knows the kind of reaction Liverpool fans had when we met on the street in London or when I went back to Liverpool – everybody gave me thanks for everything I did in Liverpool,” said Torres.
“That is what I feel for them. For me, Liverpool fans are always going to be different; I had probably the best period of my career wearing the red shirt and all my memories are great.
“I have nothing bad to say about them and I never will – they treated me like one of them and I felt at home in my time there.
“It is going to be amazing going back; hopefully the reception will be better than the one I had when I went with Chelsea.
“But it doesn’t matter what happens really. Liverpool fans are part of my heart and my feelings – everything I felt when I was a Liverpool player is inside me and no-one is going to take that away from me.”
Torres added: “If I could do (score), I would celebrate like if I was scoring in a Liverpool shirt.
“There are many memories, nice memories – great nights, great games, many goals scored in front of the Kop – and they made me feel like I could fly.
“I’m sure if I could score a goal, I can remember that kind of situation and try to enjoy it and celebrate like it’s an official game.”
Liverpool FC's 2008/2009 third kit - Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard
Torres enjoyed a electrifying on-field partnership with Gerrard, not least during the 2008-09 season that almost ended Liverpool’s long championship drought.
And the Spaniard added: “I can’t wait to play with Stevie again. I just wanted to have the chance to play with him, even if it is just one last time.
“I have said many times that Stevie is the best player that I have played with – by far. He was a big influence for me as a player; I had one career before I started playing with him and one career after I played with him.
“He changed my game and changed my motivation and ambition. He made me feel that I could really do whatever I wanted.“For me, he is going to be the best forever, so to have the chance to play with him on a special day like it is going to be on Sunday, is a privilege.”
Former Reds striker ready for "emotional" Anfield return on Sunday... but is unsure what reception he will receive from home supporters
Torres scored 24 league goals in his debut season at Anfield
Fernando Torres can’t wait to play up front with Luis Suarez at Anfield on Sunday – but admits he is unsure what reception he will receive from Liverpool fans.
Torres is part of Steven Gerrard’s squad for the All-Star charity game against a team selected by former Reds team-mate Jamie Carragher.
The Spaniard netted 81 goals in 142 appearances for Liverpool before a controversial departure to Chelsea in January 2011 – the same time Suarez was arriving from Ajax as his intended strike partner.
Suarez is also part of Gerrard’s squad for the game organised by the Liverpool FC foundation, leading to the mouthwatering prospect of the duo finally taking to the Anfield pitch together albeit more than four years late.
Asked if he was looking forward to playing alongside Suarez, Torres said: “Of course.
“I saw what Luis did in his time at Liverpool and it was amazing, just amazing.
“Luis is a good friend – we have a good relationship and good friendship.
“We were sitting together for two days at Melwood when I was leaving and he was coming.
“We made good friends and we are still in touch now.
“I also know what it means to him to go back to Anfield and play there again. It will be great to play up front with him, especially with Stevie G behind us.”
Torres added: “I’m really looking forward to meeting some of my old team-mates, especially Stevie. I’m sure it’s going to be a great day and night for him.
“And also to meet Liverpool fans again; many times I have been back to Anfield as an opponent, but this time I’m going like part of the home team.
“It’s going to be a really emotional day for me.”
The contentious exit of Torres left a bitter taste in the mouth of many Liverpool fans, with the player regularly jeered when facing the Reds while playing for Chelsea.
The striker, though, has nothing but kind words for his former supporters – and if he scores on Sunday, will celebrate as if scoring for the Anfield side.
“Everybody knows the kind of reaction Liverpool fans had when we met on the street in London or when I went back to Liverpool – everybody gave me thanks for everything I did in Liverpool,” said Torres.
“That is what I feel for them. For me, Liverpool fans are always going to be different; I had probably the best period of my career wearing the red shirt and all my memories are great.
“I have nothing bad to say about them and I never will – they treated me like one of them and I felt at home in my time there.
“It is going to be amazing going back; hopefully the reception will be better than the one I had when I went with Chelsea.
“But it doesn’t matter what happens really. Liverpool fans are part of my heart and my feelings – everything I felt when I was a Liverpool player is inside me and no-one is going to take that away from me.”
Torres added: “If I could do (score), I would celebrate like if I was scoring in a Liverpool shirt.
“There are many memories, nice memories – great nights, great games, many goals scored in front of the Kop – and they made me feel like I could fly.
“I’m sure if I could score a goal, I can remember that kind of situation and try to enjoy it and celebrate like it’s an official game.”
Torres enjoyed a electrifying on-field partnership with Gerrard, not least during the 2008-09 season that almost ended Liverpool’s long championship drought.
And the Spaniard added: “I can’t wait to play with Stevie again. I just wanted to have the chance to play with him, even if it is just one last time.
“I have said many times that Stevie is the best player that I have played with – by far. He was a big influence for me as a player; I had one career before I started playing with him and one career after I played with him.
“He changed my game and changed my motivation and ambition. He made me feel that I could really do whatever I wanted.“For me, he is going to be the best forever, so to have the chance to play with him on a special day like it is going to be on Sunday, is a privilege.”
