Rafa sends out Torres warning to Fiorentina

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has warned Fiorentina they should be wary of striker Fernando Torres.

The Spain international, who was criticised in the opening Champions League match at home to Debrecen of being lethargic and off the pace, immediately responded with two goals in the 3-2 Barclays Premier League victory at West Ham last week and followed it up with a hat-trick in the 6-1 mauling of Hull.

Benitez said the critics got it wrong about Torres against the Hungarian minnows and that, over the course of the season, he will prove his point.

“I was really pleased with him against Debrecen. He worked very hard and then he goes to West Ham and scores two goals,” said the Spaniard.

“The question was put to me last week (after the Debrecen match) that he was not fully fit, one week later suddenly everything is fantastic because he is on fire.

“Fernando wants to improve, he is keen to play and is training very hard.

“He has some good qualities and if we can keep him fit it will be good for us. When we decided to bring in Fernando we knew his character. We knew it would be good for English football, as is his physical approach.

“He is improving and doing well and hopefully it will continue.”

Fellow forward Dirk Kuyt is in a rich vein of form with four goals in eight matches for his club, including the winner against Debrecen, and Benitez said the Holland international was the unsung hero of the team.

While Torres naturally grabs all the headlines, the work of his Dutch team-mate often goes unheralded.

“He has been very important. We know he is a worker,” said the Liverpool boss.

“Some people think he is not a player with quality but his movement is very good.

“His first touch sometimes is not the best but he is always involved in the game.

“He gets into good positions and can also finish and his team-mates are very happy as he never lets you down.”

Having beaten Debrecen, victory over Fiorentina, who lost their opening match to Lyon, on Tuesday would put Liverpool into a straight head-to-head fight with the French side for top spot in Group E.