Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard reckons Reds fans have forgiven Fernando Torres over his defection to Chelsea.

Torres was widely criticised and condemned by Liverpool fans after he left to join Chelsea for £50million in January 2011.

Gerrard spoke of the Atletico Madrid striker during last night's forlorn Champions League win over Real Madrid.

"He was an absolute joy and a pleasure to play behind," Gerrard said.

“My responsibility was to try to give him the service. And it was also my responsibility as a captain to make him feel good.

"Not just myself, but with the likes of Jamie Carragher we had a very humble dressing room, and we realised straight away that for us to be successful it was important that we had a striker who felt like he was the main man in the dressing room.

"All the staff played their part as well. I feel like we all played a game around Fernando to make him feel phenomenal, like he was the main man.

“He took that confidence out onto the pitch – and rightly so. Liverpool's No.9, who is going to get you all the goals and break records, it's always important that the main man feels important.

“We all helped him, as players, to feel invincible and he took that into his performances.

“It's a shame how it ended here. But I think the majority of fans have forgiven him. He looks back at his Liverpool career with fond memories."