Liverpool striker Fernando Torres is convinced they can win the Premiership this season.

After his brace in the Merseyside derby, Torres said: "It has been a difficult start for me this season after a busy summer. But now I have got myself back into form with these two, I hope to go on a run like last season and maybe get more than the 33 I managed then.

"We know if we can stay near the top of the table in January or February we can win the title.

"We must stay in the first three or four, and if we can keep winning in the Champions League we can have a fantastic season.

"I have been working very hard and knew the goals would come."

Such has been the pain of the ongoing 18-year wait for another title Liverpool triumph, it is inevitable that excitement soars as soon as they start showing signs of a genuine challenge.

Skipper Steven Gerrard is doing his best to calm the growing expectation, and said: "It is important to be humble now and not get carried away.

"We have got a big game on Wednesday in Europe and then another vital match against Manchester City on Sunday. It is important no-one gets carried away.

"There's a long way to go and we realise how tough it is going to be to still be in the hunt come the end of the campaign, so we need to keep going, but we have set a standard that we need to match week-in, week-out."