The 2008/09 season is finally over: 51 games, 3,759 minutes and 22 goals are the numbers that make up a sometimes special, yet at other times, a disappointing campaign for Fernando Torres. The bronze award at the FIFA World Player Gala, the striker’s growth as a global figure and the ‘mano a mano’ with Manchester United for the Premier League title are possibly the season’s main headlines. But that’s not forgetting Liverpool’s tie with Real Madrid in the Champions League, Torres’ goals against the top teams in the Premiership, Liverpool’s goal of the season against Blackburn Rovers, Torres reaching the 50 goal landmark with his club, and his first appearance at the Confederations Cup have all added spice to a 2008/2009 season…which unfortunately also brought with it a series of injuries.

The forward played a total of 38 times for Liverpool plus a further 13 games for his country. The 38 appearances for his club were split domestically between the Premier League, FA Cup, Carling Cup; and in European competition, in the Champions League.

Fernando Torres scored 14 goals in his 24 Premier League games, the best goals per game ratio in the competition. The Spaniard’s ratio of 0.58 goals per game was better than the league’s topscorer Nicolas Anelka (0.51), Cristiano Ronaldo (0.54) and Liverpool teammate Steve Gerrard (0.51)

The striker scored one goal in three FA Cup appearances, and in the Carling Cup, Torres made two appearances without goals. In the Champions League the forward made nine appearances, scoring twice. His strikes came against two of the biggest teams on the world stage, Real Madrid (in the last 16) and Chelsea (in the quarterfinals).

Fernando has represented his country on 13 occasions since his memorable goal against Germany in the 2008 European Championship final. Of the five goals he’s scored in this time, his treble against New Zealand in the Confederations Cup is what most stands-out. The hat-trick in Spain’s debut was the fastest and quickest in the history of national team. His 67 international appearances for Spain is also a record for a player of his age. The 25 year old is also the 13th most capped player, again becoming the youngest to reach the 60 games for country.

- Key moments:

Fernando contested his first Merseyside derby of the campaign at Goodison Park. A double strike in just three minutes outdid Everton’s attempts to take something positive from the clash with their rivals from over the side of Stanley Park. Barley seven days later, it was double trouble again as Torres smashed two past Manchester City as Liverpool fought back from two goals down to win 3-2.

The colours of autumn were not the customary orange or brown, this time the colours were red and white, those of Torres’ boyhood team, Atletico Madrid. The group stages of the Champions League threw up a mouth-watering clash between the only two teams Fernando has played for. Unfortunately, there was to be no meeting ‘on the pitch’ as the striker picked-up an injury on international duty for Spain in Belgium. The stands though from the two teams made sure the forward was present at the Vicente Calderon Stadium and at Anfield as both sets of supporters chanted Torres’ name in unison.

The 2008/2009 season was also a campaign full of awards and accolades. National team coaches and captains from the 208 teams that make up FIFA voted the striker third in the race for the prestigious FIFA World Player award. The gala ceremony in Zurich brought together the World’s three best players together under the same roof. Cristiano Ronaldo came first ahead of Messi, and Fernando Torres; Kaka and Xavi followed in the voting for the best three players in today’s game. France Football’s Golden Ball also placed Torres on the podium in third place – this time the vote was held by journalists.

Torres was also voted best player at the Northwest Awards, was the Spaniard was selected in the ‘Top 11’ by FIFPro, and was voted Liverpool’s best player according to fans… A 2008 full of awards, was the perfect reward for a year 2008 full of work, commitment and dedication.

The 2008/09 season also had its fair share of epic victories. The fight at the top pitted together Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield. Liverpool had dominated from start to finish but the game looked like ending goalless. Two points the Reds couldn’t afford to lose. The home fans had to wait until the last three minutes, but what a last three minutes they were! Fernando Torres hit a spectacular double to keep alive Liverpool’s dream of the Premier League. Torres scored a total of five doubles in the Premiership, Everton, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Blackburn Rovers).

Another key moment of the season came against Real Madrid at Anfield. It was a historic tie, the most anticipated of the Champions League and the first time the two teams had met at the Santiago Bernabeu or at Anfield in European competition. The Whites slipped to a 1-0 defeat on home soil, but what really stood out, and what made front page news across the globe, was Liverpool’s emphatic 4-0 victory on Merseyside.

Goals from Torres, Benayoun, Dossena and Gerrard completed a 5-0 aggregate win. Liverpool had given the most successful side in European Cup history a lesson in football. The Red’s run though was brought to an end by Premier League rivals Chelsea, the defeat was the second time they had been knocked-out in consecutive years.

Important strikes from Torres in the title run-in kept the Reds in the chase for the Premier League crown, a race that ended on the penultimate day of the season. One of the highlights of Liverpool’s season was the double over Manchester United. A victory at Anfield was followed by a thumping 4-1 win at Old Trafford. The Spaniard scored his first goal in the Theatre of Dreams. Liverpool’s equaliser was a mix of faith, pace and power. Vidic was unable to halt Torres as the striker found the back of net with a cool finish.

Two consecutive doubles against Blackburn Rovers and Arsenal were a delight to watch. His first against the Lancashire club was voted Liverpool’s goal of the season by fans in a poll on the official webiste. The forward chested down a long pass from Carragher before unleashing an unstoppable right-footed volley over Robinson in the Rover’s goal. Unforgettable. His two goals at home to Arsenal form part of one of the most entertaining games in Premier League history as the two sides played-out a breathtaking 4-4 draw.

On the last day of the season the forward grabbed his 50th goal for Liverpool in all competitions. The feat had taken the striker just 84 games, 45 less than the games he required at Atletico Madrid to reach the 50 goal milestone.

The 2008/09 season drew to a close, but it will not be long before the new campaign gets underway. A pre-season tour to Asia awaits, as Liverpool face opposition from Thailand and Singapore, before two games against Spanish clubs in August: Espanyol and Atletico Madrid.

Fernando Torres will have the opportunity to face his boyhood club in a match scheduled for August 8 at Anfield. The friendly will be the Red’s final game of the pre-season as the Reds kick-off of the 2009/2010 season against Tottenham at White Hart Lane on August 15 at 15:00 hours (BST).