Torres relishing challenge

Torres: Settled in

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Liverpool striker Fernando Torres is relishing the physical challenge of English football as he closes in on 20 Premier League goals.

The 23-year-old club-record signing has netted 15 times in the league this season, including a hat-trick against Middlesbrough last weekend.

With 12 leagues games left, he is now firmly on course to becoming the first Liverpool striker to score 20 league goals in a season since Robbie Fowler in 1995/96.

He is also in line to become the most prolific 'debut season' striker in Liverpool's post-war history.

The Spaniard, who will be hoping to add to his tally against Bolton on Sunday, said: "There are so many strong defenders here. But I have settled, I have scored goals and I have coped with the physical side.

"But it is true that I would not be getting hit in the back all the time in Spain like I am here.

Happy

"I am happy with the way I have learned to cope with the physical side of the English game."

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is delighted with the way Torres is playing, saying: "Fernando has done so well in his first season. Now if he keeps going, does not have any injuries, he will score plenty more.

"We signed him because we believed he had the quality, pace and strength for the Premier League. Also, because he is young, he can grow and improve at this level even more.

"He has adapted to the physical side of the English game very well. He is strong and can handle big defenders.

"In Spain he would not continually be hit from the back, but that is the way it is here and he has learned to cope.

"We signed him because we knew he would not be afraid of the centre-backs, he would be brave and be able to cope with that style of defending."

Amazing

Benitez added: "Hopefully he will score more than 20 in the league, that would be really good for us. That would be amazing.

"He is a young player, a foreign player and a striker and we know how difficult it can be for these types of players. But I don't really set targets, I just talk to him about scoring a lot of goals."

The Liverpool boss also praised Torres' attitude, saying: "He wants to learn, he wants to improve. That is the key. He is a young player and wants to learn everything.

"He knows he can improve, and that is one of the reasons he decided to come here. He wanted to win trophies but he also knew he could improve here, that is important for the future and for him.

"He is one of the best in Europe but he will get better because his mentality is good. He can improve two or three things and they will make him much better. He knows what they are but it's better not to say because then the opponents will know."