[Mighty T.A.L.]

Fernando Torres sends out a clear message

The message to Rafa Benitez from Fernando Torres was crystal clear: I need to be playing football, not sitting on the bench.

It followed a man of the match performance at Reading in which the Spanish striker scored a hat-trick in the 4-2 win.

And, quite frankly, on the evidence of what we have seen of Torres so far this season, I only hope the Liverpool boss takes the message on board and plays him regularly from now on.

His wasn’t just a performance about goals, although he took each one with brilliant composure. It was about pace, strength, the ability to be a constant menace, technique, skill and the confidence of a striker who simply wants – and needs – to be out there leading the Reds line in every game.

We know that won’t happen, but we also know that the Reds cannot afford the loss of two points to the likes of Birmingham City in the Premiership, either.

Torres didn’t allow the Reading defence to relax for the 90 minutes. Despite some crude tackling, a total lack of protection from a referee who was embarrassing, and the fact he should have won a penalty which was blatant as any I have seen, it was a complete performance from a complete player.

Source: icLiverpool