Torres "Now is our time. Second best is not going to cut"

• zocoss

  14 Aug 09, 09:08

  

   

  FERNANDO TORRES threw out a title taunt to Chelsea and Manchester United last night.

  The Liverpool hitman said: "We have no problem beating Manchester United or Chelsea but it is games like Sunday's at Tottenham where we need to show our real title intentions.

  "Tottenham is not an easy place to go but these are games we must be winning if this is to finally be our year."

  The Spanish striker, 25, believes his side simply HAVE to win the Premier League title this season after going so close last term.

  They missed out by just four points to champions United.

  Torres said: "I am not thinking can we win the title, I am thinking we have to win the title.

  "We came so close last season but for many of the players it was their first time experiencing the pressure of a Premier League title race."

   

• limpper

  14 Aug 09, 10:07

  We have no problem beating the big teams – Liverpool’s Torres

  Liverpool striker Fernando Torres believes the team are quite capable of defeating the big teams but need to concentrate on beating the ‘other’ clubs to win the title.

  As the Reds prepare for their season opener against Tottenham at White Hart Lane on Sunday, the Spanish star said the team would be putting more emphasis on getting wins in games like the one against Spurs.

  "We have no problem beating Manchester United or Chelsea but it is games like Sunday's at Tottenham where we need to show our real title intentions,” Torres said.

  "Tottenham is not an easy place to go but these are games we must be winning if this is to finally be our year."

  Torres added that the title has to be Liverpool’s goal this year.

  "I am not thinking can we win the title, I am thinking we have to win the title,” he added.

  "We came so close last season but for many of the players it was their first time experiencing the pressure of a Premier League title race."

• Cristiano@Red_Devils.com

  14 Aug 09, 11:52

  Football season has resumed!

  So have the big talkings and mind games...

• limpper

  14 Aug 09, 13:54

  Originally posted by Cristiano@Red_Devils.com:

  Football season has resumed!

  So have the big talkings and mind games...

  yea, finally some nice matches to watch during weekends.

  i always hated the off season period

• Rooney9

  14 Aug 09, 16:36

  I dun think liverpool can repeat its feat of beating man utd and chelsea home and away this season. last season results are past and irrelevant now. let the season begins on this weekend, hoping for a big upset,especially keen to see how city cope with its many star players gelling under hughes, who is under pressure to finish top 4 and win any trophies.

• limpper

  14 Aug 09, 17:38

  Liverpool ace Torres tells teammates: No more excuses

  Liverpool ace Fernando Torres has told teammates the time for excuses is over.

  "It has to be this season. There is no room for excuses any more," the Spanish striker told The Sun.

  "We have experience and, if we don't bring the title back to Anfield, I won't be offering up any excuses at the end of the season."

  The 25-year-old striker is confident boss Rafa Benitez's squad is good enough to switch the balance of football power from Manchester and London to Merseyside.

  He added: "We don't need to improve a lot on last season to win the title.

  "There is only a slight improvement needed to give the fans and players the title they have wanted for so many years now. This is the best Liverpool team there has been in years. That is what many of the experienced players are saying.

  "And now is our time. Second-best is just not going to cut it with me any more."

• limpper

  14 Aug 09, 22:40

  Torres boosts Liverpool by inking new deal

  Fernando Torres has signed an improved Liverpool contract.

  Torres has signed a new contract, agreed last season, which is understood to put him on £110,000 a week.

  Liverpool loudly trumpeted that agreement in May, and the new deal includes a one-year extension option that could keep Torres at Anfield until 2014.

  The 25-year-old Spaniard, who is expected to recover from an ankle injury to play at Spurs on Sunday, is understood to have seen his wages rise from £70,000 a week to £110,000 under the new agreement.

  Under the terms of his original deal, Torres had the option of having his wages reviewed this summer and Liverpool have been quick to make sure there is no hint of a problem, aware that Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea have reportedly shown interest in the player.

  Manager Rafael Benitez said: "Fernando is one of the best strikers in the game and, at his age, can only get better.

  "Every major side would want him in their team, but he has shown how much he wants to achieve success at Liverpool by committing his future to the club. He's a special talent, but still has the hunger to improve his game."

• mrwonderful

  15 Aug 09, 14:42

  Beat big teams no big deal. Whatever team you beat, whether, big medium or small, it is still 3 points.

  Thats Liverpool's problem last season. Just focus on winning against big teams then lose all concentration, become overconfident against the others.

• zocoss

  15 Aug 09, 14:52

  TORRES - NO EXCUSES FOR REDS

  

  
  
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  Fernando Torres believes Liverpool have the talent and experience to end their long wait for a Premier League title. The Reds have been tipped to mount another strong challenge after finishing just four points behind champions Manchester United last season. 

  Rafa Benitez's men had a good record against the other top teams in 2008/9 and Torres insists he is not worried about the clashes with United and Chelsea. 

  He feels Liverpool can make up the difference by claiming wins rather than draws in some of the other tricky fixtures, and he is targeting a fast start at Tottenham on Sunday. 

  "We have no problem beating Manchester United or Chelsea but it is games like Sunday's at Tottenham where we need to show our real title intentions," the Spaniard told The Sun. 

  "Tottenham is not an easy place to go but these are games we must be winning if this is to finally be our year." 

  Torres is convinced that Liverpool can win the title and admits it would be devastating for both the players and supporters to miss out again. 

  He said: "I am not thinking can we win the title, I am thinking we have to win the title. 

  "We came so close last season but for many of the players it was their first time experiencing the pressure of a Premier League title race. 

  "We have experience and if we don't bring the title back to Anfield I won't be offering up any excuses at the end of the season. 

  "We don't need to improve a lot on last season to win the title. There is only a slight improvement needed to give the fans and players the title they have wanted for so many years now. 

  "This is the best Liverpool team there has been in years, that is what many of the experienced players are saying.

  "Now is our time. Second best is just not going to cut it with me any more."

• United4Life

  16 Aug 09, 15:38

  This season is really make or break for Liverpool. not only cuz they came so close last season. Is cuz almost every liverpool fan can feel that the title is withing their grasp...it would be a big blow if they dont win it. Not only that, the players also desperate to win it since they came so close....in my opinion, if Liverpool still dont win it this season, Torres is gonna leave.

• dukedracula

  16 Aug 09, 17:40

  beating the big teams is not the key, it's beating the other teams that always seal the deal....i believe manu and chelsea did so so against big teams in the years they took the crown, but they get 3 points off the others consistently.....

• charlize

  16 Aug 09, 18:12

  I think general rule of thumb is to get at least 50% of the points against other teams in the Top 4 and have a decent 80% win rate against the other 16 teams to be able to challenge for the title. 

   

  Anything less than that means you might need to depend a lot on the other teams choking or dropping points.