Fernando Torres expects mixed reception upon Anfield return

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Forgive and forget? Fernando Torres will make his long-awaited Liverpool return tomorrow…

Former Liverpool striker Fernando Torres has revealed his excitement about the prospect of playing at Anfield again, although admits that he’s not sure what to expect in terms of his reception from the fans.

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The Spaniard will be among a host of former Reds who are set to return to Merseyside tomorrow as part of the Anfield charity match, where he will play alongside club captain and former teammate Steven Gerrard.

Torres was full of praise for Gerrard, as well as another former Liverpool striker – Luis Suarez – who arrived at Anfield on the same day that the Reds’ former No. 9 departed for Chelsea in a £50m deal.

Speaking to our official website ahead of the game, he explained why he’s excited to be playing alongside both players tomorrow, while he also revealed that he plans to celebrate any goal as if he was scoring for Liverpool.

You can read his full interview below:

How much are you looking forward to the game on Sunday?

I’m really looking forward to meeting some of my old teammates, especially Stevie. I’m sure it’s going to be a great day and night for him. And also to meet Liverpool fans again; many times I have been back to Anfield as an opponent, but this time I’m going like part of the home team. It’s going to be a really emotional day for me.

What was your first reaction when you got the call and you were asked to play?

My first reaction was: ‘Of course I will be there. I will do anything I can, anything in my hands, to be there with Stevie on that day.’

You left Liverpool just before Luis Suarez arrived. The fans are desperate to see you both play alongside each other. Are you looking forward to that?

Of course. I saw what Luis did in his time at Liverpool and it was amazing, just amazing. Luis is a good friend – we have a good relationship and good friendship. We were sitting together for two days at Melwood when I was leaving and he was coming. We made good friends and we are still in touch now. I also know what it means to him to go back to Anfield and play there again. It will be great to play up front with him, especially with Stevie G behind us.

You mentioned that you have returned to Anfield previously as an opposition player. Do you expect it to be different this time? It is such a special occasion, do you expect your reception to be different?

I’m not sure. I will say to everybody that what the media says about the relationship between Liverpool fans and me after I left was not the reality. Everybody knows the kind of reaction Liverpool fans had when we met on the street in London or when I went back to Liverpool – everybody gave me thanks for everything I did in Liverpool. That is what I feel for them. For me, Liverpool fans are always going to be different; I had probably the best period of my career wearing the red shirt and all my memories are great. I have nothing bad to say about them and I never will – they treated me like one of them and I felt at home in my time there. It is going to be amazing going back; hopefully the reception will be better than the one I had when I went with Chelsea. But it doesn’t matter what happens really. Liverpool fans are part of my heart and my feelings – everything I felt when I was a Liverpool player is inside me and no-one is going to take that away from me.

Just what would it mean to you to score again at Anfield, in front of those supporters?

If I could do that, I would celebrate like if I was scoring in a Liverpool shirt. There are many memories, nice memories – great nights, great games, many goals scored in front of the Kop – and they made me feel like I could fly. I’m sure if I could score a goal, I can remember that kind of situation and try to enjoy it and celebrate like it’s an official game.

You mentioned how desperate you are to play alongside Steven Gerrard again. This is his final season with Liverpool – how would you sum him up as a player?

I can’t wait to play with Stevie again. I just wanted to have the chance to play with him, even if it is just one last time. No-one knows if it is going to be the last time, but be sure that I am going to enjoy it. I have said many times that Stevie is the best player that I have played with – by far. He was a big influence for me as a player; I had one career before I started playing with him and one career after I played with him. He changed my game and changed my motivation and ambition. He made me feel that I could really do whatever I wanted. For me, he is going to be the best forever, so to have the chance to play with him on a special day like it is going to be on Sunday, is a privilege. I want to be there on Sunday and be on the pitch with him.

I’m really looking forward to meeting some of my old teammates, especially Stevie. I’m sure it’s going to be a great day and night for him. And also to meet Liverpool fans again; many times I have been back to Anfield as an opponent, but this time I’m going like part of the home team. It’s going to be a really emotional day for me.

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