Fernando Torres: Liverpool's New Colossus

In Rafael Benitez's three years with Liverpool, no one has been more crucial to the club's cause than captain Steven Gerrard and vice-captain Jamie Carragher.

While others have shone in Liverpool red, it's been widely recognised that a squad without either Gerrard or Carragher is a severely weakened one.

It's interesting, then, that Liverpool recently hit ten goals in two games with both Scousers out—and even more surprising that fans were more dismayed by Benitez's decision to leave Fernando Torres on the bench at Portsmouth than by his decision to hand the same fate to his captain.

If nothing else, the support for Torres reflects the fact that Liverpool's record £20m signing has transformed their attack, and given them options that few other forwards (and no one at Anfield) can provide.

Torres certainly didn't arrive to universal acclaim on Merseyside. Liverpool fans have had their fill of disappointing big-name strikers in recent years—Cisse, Diouf, Morientes, Baros, even Collymore to a degree.

The concern in some quarters was that Torres would prove to be another overseas import who wouldn't cut it in the English game. Surely, the critics suggested, Liverpool would have been better off moving for a player proven in the Premier League, like Darren Bent or, more sentimentally, Michael Owen.

One month into the new season, that logic has been swept away on a tide of admiration.

Kenny Dalglish won quick acclaim upon arriving at Liverpool in the 70s, but the last player to make such an immediate impact was John Barnes. Like Torres, Barnes transformed the team's play in the last third, bringing  width, pace, and the ability to beat defenders time and again.

Torres' speed is startling at times. Against Sunderland, he burst between two centre backs from a standing start, leaving them wide-eyed and disorientated for the rest of the match.

Even better, the newcomer has yet to live up to a reputation for missing more chances than he scores, having produced sumptuous finishes against Chelsea and Derby. He also seems to relish the physical side of the English game, refusing to be bullied by centre backs and giving as good as he gets.

Indeed, the way Torres snaps at defenders is reminiscent of the glory days when Dalglish and Rush defended from the front.

Torres' increasing importance to Liverpool was strongly in evidence at Portsmouth, even off the bench. Peter Crouch, for all he can bring to a team, can't do what Torres can—and he certainly isn't the missing piece Liverpool's attack has lacked for so long.

Defenders don't know whether Torres will lay the ball off, take them on, turn and shoot from distance, or act as a decoy for Voronin or Kuyt. He's remarkably unselfish and hardworking—a real team player.

In Torres, Liverpool have a top level attacking player for the first time since Michael Owen—an answer to Rooney, Drogba, Berbatov and the rest. It's no wonder they're being touted in some quarters as a serious title bet.

It is, of course, still very early in the season. But it's rare for a player to make such a dramatic early impact and not go on to become a central figure for his club.

Given Torres' success in gelling with his new teammates, Liverpool fans would seem to have every reason to expect big things down the road from their £20m man.