Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez believes Fernando Torres will break the 30-goal barrier in his first Premiership season.

Ahead of today's derby, he told liverpoolfc.tv: "Torres is a player with a lot of quality and confidence and it's always important to have your top scorer playing. He is always a threat to any defence. He is playing well and scoring goals and if the team can help him then I think he will score at least 30 goals this season."

Of Torres' midweek injury scare against Italy, Benitez added: "Clearly not the best preparation but he wasn't playing against Italy, he was playing against Materazzi. He is okay and he will be ready for this game."