Liverpool end their pre-season campaign at home to Atletico Madrid on Saturday 8, kick-off at 15:00 hours (BST). The clash at Anfield against Fernando Torres home-town club will be the Reds first game in front of their fans following friendlies in central Europe, South East Asia, Spain and Norway.

Saturday’s match against Spanish outfit will be the Merseysiders final test as they prepare for the start of the Premier League on Sunday 16 against Tottenham at White Hart Lane, kick-off at 16:00 (BST). Following the Reds opener away to Spurs, they face Stoke City on Wednesday 19 at 20:00 hours (BST) at Anfield.

Atletico’s fourth-place finish in the 2008/09 La Liga ensured them of a place in the play-off round for the group stages of the Champions League. For Atletico Madrid, the match against Liverpool will be the best possible test ahead of their qualifier with Panathinaikos. The two-legged tie, which will be played on August is a must win tie for the Rojiblancos if they want to be a part of Europe’s top club competition next season.

The meeting between the two teams on Merseyside will be an emotive occasion for the Red number ‘9’. Liverpool and Atletico met for the first time in European competition last season as Torres’ previous club and current club were drawn together in the group stages of the Champions League.

Unfortunately for the forward, an injury picked-up on international duty kept the Spaniard out of both matches. Although the striker did not play, he watched the 1-1 stalemate from the stands at Anfield, and was also ‘present’ at the game in Madrid. The ‘Torres song’ could be heard loud and clear throughout the 1-1 draw with Atletico at the Vicente Calderon as the 5000 travelling Liverpool supporters cheered on their club. The striker’s name was then chanted by both sets of supporters after the final whistle, as the two clubs bonded in the stands.

Having worked his way up through the youth ranks to first team captain, Fernando Torres wore the Atletico Madrid colours for 12 years. The summer of 2007 however saw the forward swap his home-town club for Liverpool FC as the striker moved abroad for the first time in his career.

The Spain and Liverpool goalscorer was always confident that Liverpool and Atletico Madrid would meet again: “it was a great shame to miss the two games, but our paths will cross again”. The striker’s wish will come true on Saturday, as his two clubs meet for the first time with Torres on the pitch.