Liverpool striker Fernando Torres has thanked the club's fans for helping him become a record-breaker in his first season at Anfield.
Torres became the most prolific foreigner ever in a debut season by scoring his 24th Premier League goal of the season in the 2-0 win at Tottenham to break Ruud van Nistelrooy's previous record.
The Spanish international has been a revelation since his arrival from Atletico Madrid and Torres admits the support he has received from the Anfield faithful is one of the main reasons why he has been such a success.
"The supporters back the players, regardless of who is out on the pitch," said Torres.
"They enjoy watching their key players play, because Liverpool has great players, but Liverpool will always be a team.
"The fans get behind the side even when things are not working out, and they are always there until the death.
"That is the major difference with football back in Spain. If a team is not doing well, then it is because the players do not deserve to be wearing the club's colours.
"At Liverpool, if a player is wearing their shirt, it is because he deserves it. The fans ask for effort and dedication, and their support is something special, something that stays with you.
"Luckily, everything has worked out well from day one, and my team-mates have helped out, and I owe them all an awful lot."
Your Comments
Chelsea1905
"Scouse wit seems to have escaped some when reading my comments. And like someone mentioned, the whole loyalty thing is a joke really isn't it. He was loyal to his boyhood Atletico, but eventually left. And as for Gerrard, he was all set to leave for Chelsea regardless of what anyone says. But he bottled it because of huge fan pressure and an suden improved contract. Maybe he was just playing the game or something. But don't kid yourself. he nearly upped and left you."
nishath_786
"So much for the famous Scouse wit... Good Lord, talk about sense of humour bypass! "
yash
"We should buy Ashley Young as well as Barry, in exchange for Crouch & Riise & some loose change. we also need to get Bently raised by the selling of Alonso and the signing of Benzema or Argentinian Sergio Ageuro now with Ath Madrid who has stated his dream is to play for Liverpool having supported them as a boy, to find the cash for that we should sell Kuyt (hard worker but poor goal return in the prem for ?14 mill not good enough), We will need a full back maybe Lahm of Bayern or Maicon from Inter and I'd like to see more of El Zhar and see more of the youngsters coming through, then we would crack the prem and the Champion League, providing Rafa lets the team gain consistency instead of over rotating of the starting 11, "
fenwick
"gerrards's loyalty?? you mean he stayed when liverpool offered more money"
howlong
"mmmmm chelsea "fan" Torres took a pay cut to join liverpool, kind of shows that he's not really there for the money. Plus he has already shown considerable loyalty to his previous club, stayed with Atletico for 6 years when every top club in europe tried to sign him. He seems to have a very strong bond with the fans and with the addition of a couple of players might enjoy winning a trophy or two in the next few years."
Chelsea1905
"Hahahaha. I am sorry. I was actually winding you all up and if you read my posts on other threads, I think you will realise just as much. I don't think for a minute that we'd sign Torres. I do quite nejoy winding Liverpool fans up though. I don't think you should all bank on Torres being all loyal and Liverpool through and through. I think anyone thinking such stuff is deluded. Torres, just like Drogba and Fabregas and Ronaldo, will eventually be tempted by pastures new when the opportunity and money is right for them. That's what these players do. Come over, stay whilst the going is good and then shoot off when the time is right. For the record, I think Torres has had a great season, and the way he has knuckled down is a credit to him as a professional. Many other foreigners, in fact English lads too, could learn a lot from him. I wish our very own petulent Drogba could knuckle down and concentrate on being the player he is rather the controversial, injury feigning strikers he's become. Still can't stand Rafa of Liverpool."
spudnick
"Your startintg to make me want United to win the Champions league...muppet!"
StanGreenan
"Ha Ha Ha yet another deluded Chelsea "Fan" not understanding the concept of loyalty or passion. Why would Torres leave a club where he is loved to play in a Cemetary like Stamford Bridge? I suppose if you had such commited loyal players like Cashley Cole and Didier "i will DEFINITELY be leaving Chelski in the Summer" Drogba then it would be a hard concept to understand."
RobMcC
"What a clown. To think Nando might bail out on us after one year, but in fairness what more could you expect from someone who supports a team of mercenaries. Where will Drogba be next year? Not at the bore-fest of Stamford Bridge, that's for sure."
sharpp
"Wow. Chelsea fan in revealing complete lack of footballing knowledge shocker. Torres would never sign for Madrid, due to the fact that he's Atletico born and bred. It would be like Gary Neville signing for Liverpool. As has already benn mentioned: sad club."
All comments on this story