Liverpool ace Fernando Torres says he was inspired by skipper Steven Gerrard to take the field on Sunday against Manchester United.

The Spanish striker needed pain-killing jabs to the injury that had kept him out for two games, and got the nod to face Manchester United just before the match.

Skipper Gerrard had done the same in the Champions League clash with Lyon five days earlier.

While Gerro lasted only 24 minutes of the Euro defeat, Torres was on the field for all but 10 minutes of the 2-0 win over the champions.

He said: "I wasn't 100 per cent fit but I wanted to play and it was worth it. We knew it was going to be a risk and I felt some pain in some of my movements beforehand.

"I just wanted to play so much. When the team is losing and not playing well, it is so hard to watch. You just want to help, and during the game it was actually okay.

"It was like Stevie in the Champions League. He wanted to play - he wasn't fit but he is the leader of the team."