Fernando Torres Calls Steven Gerrard 'By Far' the Best Player He's Played With

Fernando Torres has played with some of the greatest players in the world at club and international level, but he says nobody compares to Steven Gerrard.

The Atletico Madrid man returns to Anfield to play in Gerrard and Jamie Carragher's charity game on Sunday, and he says he can't wait to link up again with his former captain. 

He told the Liverpool Echo: 

"

I can’t wait to play with Stevie again. I just wanted to have the chance to play with him, even if it is just one last time.

I have said many times that Stevie is the best player that I have played with – by far. He was a big influence for me as a player; I had one career before I started playing with him and one career after I played with him.

He changed my game and changed my motivation and ambition. He made me feel that I could really do whatever I wanted. For me, he is going to be the best forever, so to have the chance to play with him on a special day like it is going to be on Sunday, is a privilege.

"

Torres became an Anfield favourite by scoring 81 goals in 142 games for Liverpool between 2007-2011, but he was criticised by a large section of supporters when he signed for Chelsea for £50 million.

However, Torres said he still has fond memories of the club and hopes to get a good reception on Sunday. 

"

I have nothing bad to say about them [Liverpool fans] and I never will – they treated me like one of them and I felt at home in my time there.

It is going to be amazing going back; hopefully the reception will be better than the one I had when I went with Chelsea.

But it doesn’t matter what happens really. Liverpool fans are part of my heart and my feelings – everything I felt when I was a Liverpool player is inside me and no-one is going to take that away from me.

"

[Liverpool Echo]