Liverpool’s emphatic 4-0 win over Real Madrid hit the headlines across the globe. Following the 90 minutes of ‘total football’ at Anfield, players, coaches, fans and press all coincided that Fernando Torres played a key part in the Red’s passage into the last eight of the Champions League.

Boss Rafa Benitez analysed Fernando’s contribution in the Spanish daily newspaper ‘El Periódico’: “There was no intent on my part to keep Fernando from playing, but I did not want to force him as we have a must-win game at Old Trafford on Saturday. Fernando though kept insisting on playing, he played through the pain barrier, had to have a pain killing injection, and we almost had to put his in ankle in a cast. Fernando swivelled on that ankle to score the goal. That’s exactly what the Kid is all about, he’s pure class.”

Club captain Steve Gerrard also praised the striker’s attitude, determination and drive ahead of the Champions League tie: “Fernando was really pumped up in the dressing room beforehand so it was no surprise to me that he played as well as he did. He was right up for this one and I'm sure he enjoyed his goal. One turn he produced in the first half was world class and his performance showed that if we are to be successful we need to keep him fit.”