Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has described his Reds team-mate Fernando Torres as 'the stand out striker in the world'.

Torres has proved to be money well spent after already firing 30 goals in his first season in England following the Spaniard's club record transfer from Atletico Madrid last summer.

Liverpool are also preparing for their UEFA Champions League semi-final against Chelsea and ahead of the crucial run in, Carragher has expressed his delight that he has Torres as a club colleague.

"For me, Fernando is probably the stand out striker in world football and I'm just delighted that he's in a Liverpool shirt," Carragher told Liverpool's official website.

"To get 30 goals in your first season is a fantastic achievement and hopefully he can go on and get a few more goals this season.

"People said he didn't have his best game against Blackburn but he scored another important goal and that's his job."