skip to main content

Benitez hails new strike partnership

Robbie Keane is set to start for Liverpool in the Champions League tonight
Robbie Keane is set to start for Liverpool in the Champions League tonight

Rafael Benitez reckons he has a strike force as good as anything in Europe as he prepares Liverpool for tonight's Champions League qualifier.

Spanish star Fernando Torres and new recruit Robbie Keane are expected to be sent out against Belgian champions Standard Liege to shoot Liverpool into the group stages.

This third qualifying round, first leg, should not be too demanding for Liverpool, who have never lost an away leg at this stage of the competition.

And Benitez is banking on Torres and Keane for the goals.

He said: 'Keane and Torres are clever players, they scored plenty of goals last season and when they have played a lot more games together for us, they will score here too.

'These two strikers are top class, and they can be at the level of anyone in this competition. They will get better and better.

'They will need time. It has been a difficult summer with players arriving for training at different stages, but I have no worries about them in the future.'

Read Next