TORRES LOVING LIVERPOOL LIFE
Liverpool's Spanish goalscoring sensation Fernando Torres believes he is in the best form of his career after falling in love with English football.
The striker became Liverpool's record signing when he moved from Atletico Madrid for £21million in the summer and he has instantly set the Premier League alight.
If the 23-year-old scores against Manchester City on Sunday he will be the first Liverpool player since Michael Owen in 2001 to score 10 league goals before New Year's Day and Torres admits things could not be going much better for him.
"So far it's been great for everybody," he told as.com. "I'm adapting to life in England, to the customs, to everything. The truth is that it's all been much easier than I thought.
"On my arrival I had to adapt but the people have helped me a lot and it's true that if things are going good for you, like what's happening to me, then everything is much easier.
"I'm loving my football. I had many years of suffering and now I am used to winning, to going onto every pitch to win or knowing that you can - it's what all footballers want."
Many predicted it would take a while for Torres to adapt to life in England but the striker has impressed since netting on his home debut against Chelsea.
But the Spain star insists that just as he has won the hearts of the Liverpool fans, so has he become enamoured with life and football in his adopted country.
"People give you more space here," he added. "They recognise you, they might say hello, but they're not all over you constantly, like they are in Spain.
"You can go calmly anywhere - you don't have as much pressure everywhere you go.
"Technically the football is better in Spain, of a higher quality. But in England they play a more dynamic, quicker type of football with more shots at goal. The games are more open and for both player and spectator it's nicer football.
"That also goes for the intensity. In England you don't stop running and fighting. It's the norm and if you don't do that you can't play in the Premier League."
Torres also added that to solve the age-old debate about which league is the best in the world you only have to look at the number of Spaniards leaving their sunny shores for a less appealing climate of England.
"There are many Spaniards here: Xabi, Arbeloa, Reina, Arteta, Cesc - and they're loving football here.
"The Premiership is a great league, with very strong teams and doesn't have anything to envy about the Spanish championship.
"I don't know if we should be worried because more and more of us are moving to England. The weather, the language, the food... at the best they're difficulties, but for playing football there's nowhere like here."
The striker, who has scored 15 goals in all competitions this season, had a final word of comfort for Atletico fans who were devastated to see him leave the club he had been at since he was 11.
"I left a team that wasn't fighting for titles to go to one that battles for the Champions League and the English league - a team that you look at when you play in Europe is Liverpool.
"But I would like to go back one day. I would love to see the team grow, become champions and one day I will go back. I will always know that Atletico is my home."
Liverpool's Spanish goalscoring sensation Fernando Torres believes he is in the best form of his career after falling in love with English football.
The striker became Liverpool's record signing when he moved from Atletico Madrid for £21million in the summer and he has instantly set the Premier League alight.
If the 23-year-old scores against Manchester City on Sunday he will be the first Liverpool player since Michael Owen in 2001 to score 10 league goals before New Year's Day and Torres admits things could not be going much better for him.
"So far it's been great for everybody," he told as.com. "I'm adapting to life in England, to the customs, to everything. The truth is that it's all been much easier than I thought.
"On my arrival I had to adapt but the people have helped me a lot and it's true that if things are going good for you, like what's happening to me, then everything is much easier.
"I'm loving my football. I had many years of suffering and now I am used to winning, to going onto every pitch to win or knowing that you can - it's what all footballers want."
Many predicted it would take a while for Torres to adapt to life in England but the striker has impressed since netting on his home debut against Chelsea.
But the Spain star insists that just as he has won the hearts of the Liverpool fans, so has he become enamoured with life and football in his adopted country.
"People give you more space here," he added. "They recognise you, they might say hello, but they're not all over you constantly, like they are in Spain.
"You can go calmly anywhere - you don't have as much pressure everywhere you go.
"Technically the football is better in Spain, of a higher quality. But in England they play a more dynamic, quicker type of football with more shots at goal. The games are more open and for both player and spectator it's nicer football.
"That also goes for the intensity. In England you don't stop running and fighting. It's the norm and if you don't do that you can't play in the Premier League."
Torres also added that to solve the age-old debate about which league is the best in the world you only have to look at the number of Spaniards leaving their sunny shores for a less appealing climate of England.
"There are many Spaniards here: Xabi, Arbeloa, Reina, Arteta, Cesc - and they're loving football here.
"The Premiership is a great league, with very strong teams and doesn't have anything to envy about the Spanish championship.
"I don't know if we should be worried because more and more of us are moving to England. The weather, the language, the food... at the best they're difficulties, but for playing football there's nowhere like here."
The striker, who has scored 15 goals in all competitions this season, had a final word of comfort for Atletico fans who were devastated to see him leave the club he had been at since he was 11.
"I left a team that wasn't fighting for titles to go to one that battles for the Champions League and the English league - a team that you look at when you play in Europe is Liverpool.
"But I would like to go back one day. I would love to see the team grow, become champions and one day I will go back. I will always know that Atletico is my home."
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