News'One of the best in Liverpool history' – Fernando Torres' pride in Mo Salah

Torres and Salah were once teammates at Chelsea as the latter made his first steps in English football back in 2014, and have remained in touch since.

Like most people, Torres has been blown away by the levels Salah has reached following his move to Anfield in 2017.

With 207 goals in 337 appearances, the Egyptian currently sits fifth on the Reds’ all-time top scorers list and has a games-to-goals ratio that surpasses many of the club’s great forwards – Torres included.

“We were teammates at Chelsea and I’m really, really happy for him,” Torres told Liverpoolfc.com. “I’m in touch with him many times and I’m really happy that he breaks all my records!

“I remember when he came to England and he was very young and didn’t have the minutes he deserved. He had to move to Italy and prove himself and find a special club for a special player.

“You can see the results of what he did by himself. For me, [he is a] top player and one of the best players in the last 10 years. I always say this, [he is] my favourite player [and] I put him among the best players in the world in the last 10 years.

“You can see what Liverpool managed to win and you know the club is fighting for everything and I’m sure he is one of the main reasons. I’m really proud of him because I know how difficult it was for him to come to England and time proved he was a special player and just needed a special club like Liverpool to trust him, and he showed what he can do.

“I was really happy when he signed his new contract to keep playing for Liverpool [in 2022]. He’s going to be one of the best players in Liverpool history, I’m sure. He is already but still he has many things to do.”

Torres has also played alongside another member of Jürgen Klopp’s current Reds squad, briefly linking up with a young Diogo Jota during his second spell at Atletico Madrid in 2016.

“I remember when Diogo came,” Torres said. “He was really young and came from Pacos de Ferreira as one of these young talents who joined the pre-season in Atletico’s first team and everybody is expecting big things from them.

“At the end of the pre-season he left [for FC Porto] but you could see something special in this young lad. I’m really happy for him, how he’s doing now in his time in England.

“Moving to Liverpool was a big step for him. Now you can see the kind of player he is. I remember that small period of time we played together and I’m so proud of what he did after that because it’s not easy to come to Atletico and leave on loan, and you have to prove yourself in different places.”

Torres made an emotional return to Anfield last weekend, scoring in front of the Kop as Liverpool FC Legends defeated Ajax Legends 4-2 in the eighth annual charity game, raising money for LFC Foundation.

The 40-year-old, who netted 81 goals in 142 appearances for the Reds between 2007 and 2011, is currently embarking on a new career in coaching.

Torres manages Atletico’s U19 team and hopes one day to emulate some of his former coaches, such as Rafael Benitez and Diego Simeone.

He also, of course, has a lot of respect for the work of Klopp.

“I like more the English style – the transition game and the press and to play quick and sharp,” he said. “That’s why I’m a big fan of Jürgen since he was in Dortmund.

“I was really happy when I saw him signing for Liverpool because you could see from Klopp [that] there is a connection with the supporters – he did it in Mainz in Germany, he did it in Dortmund and Liverpool is even more special. The connection from the players, the coaches and the supporters is amazing. You can see after nine seasons what he did and I think he’s special.

“I met him a few times when they came to Madrid and I also follow Pep Lijnders. I read his book and I can see many things they do daily and it’s a big inspiration. Hopefully I have the chance to meet them and to talk with them and see what they are doing.

“When you see a Jürgen Klopp team, you know the way they are going to perform. There is one style – this heavy-metal football – and I love that. The difficult thing is: how do you train that? Hopefully I can find out one day.”

Torres says he has also been delighted to see the progress of so many young players at Liverpool this season – some of whom he came across earlier in their journey.

“I remember playing against Liverpool in the [UEFA] Youth League three years ago,” he added. “In that squad I played against [Jarell] Quansah, [Bobby] Clark, [Conor] Bradley, many of the players that you can see now in the first team.

“It’s really nice to see the players when they were young and now they are in the first team and doing the job they are doing. It’s really nice for the coaches to be part of that.”

He continued: “I was one of those players that said I will never be a coach! But look at me now, I’m trying!

“I’m enjoying a lot, learning a lot in the Atletico Madrid academy. It’s my third season in the U19s and I feel that I can help young players because I was there once and I’m trying to help them.

“You can see now that we have Pablo Barrios in the first team of Atletico – he was with us two years ago and I’m really proud of him. You can feel that you are part of the development of the players. This is really nice.

“I’m trying to find my own way but always looking at the best. I’m lucky enough to have fantastic managers in my career – Rafael Benitez, Luis Aragones in Spain, [Jose] Mourinho, [Carlo] Ancelotti, Simeone. I learn a lot from each of them and now I try to do things my own way.”