Benitez backs Reds hotshot Torres to smash Van Nistelrooy goal record

Torres will run out at Anfield tomorrow for the visit of Newcastle having scored hat-tricks in his last two matches at the stadium.

He will also be presented with the Barclays player of the month award for February beforehand.

With 24 goals in 33 games since joining from Atletico Madrid in the summer Benitez claims Torres believes he will score every time he walks onto a pitch.

So far he has scored 18 league goals, five short of Van Nistelrooy's total of 23 in the 2001-02 season, the highest league tally by a foreign player in his Premier League debut season.

Torres is also on course to become the first Liverpool player for 12 years to hit 20 league goals in a season - something Michael Owen, returning to Anfield with Newcastle, never achieved in his time at Liverpool.

For Benitez, Torres' speedy adaptation to English football is a genuine plus.

"We knew when we signed Fernando that he had quality, pace and strength," said the Spanish manager.

"But I am a little surprised to see him scoring so regularly at this level straight away, it is not easy for someone in their first season in England.

"But he believes he can score in every game now and the sort of records that are being mentioned are within his capabilities.

"He has such confidence the prospect of scoring 24 league goals is within him."

Benitez will be forced into changing a winning side against Kevin Keegan's strugglers, with midfielder Javier Mascherano out with a muscle injury.

Benitez could bring in young Brazilian Lucas Leiva or switch Steven Gerrard back to a central midfield role with Dirk Kuyt coming in off the right wing to partner Torres up front, meaning Yossi Benayoun would be likely to start.

Mascherano is expected to be fit for Tuesday's trip to face Inter Milan in the Champions League but right-back Steve Finnan is more doubtful as he struggles with a hamstring problem which will sideline him against Newcastle.

Benitez knows Torres has become the key to Liverpool's ambitions for the remainder of the season after a shockingly inconsistent campaign but he admitted: "Fernando is not the perfect striker yet. He has things he can learn - and you cannot find a perfect manager either!"

The Reds boss also made sure he did not get dragged into commenting on the club's takeover saga, which is close to a solution.

"For us at the moment it is more important to keep our concentration on the matches we have. They are coming fast now, and hugely important," he added.

"I am thinking only of that. Together, myself and the players need to concentrate on the football."

Benitez also accepts tomorrow's game will be an emotional one for Liverpool legend Keegan, who has yet to win any of the seven matches he has been in charge for since returning to manage Newcastle.

"My memories of Keegan come from watching him play for Hamburg against Real Madrid in the European Cup," said the Spaniard.

"In Madrid he was marked out of the game but in Hamburg it was a different matter.

"Madrid's defenders never saw him, he was always getting in behind them and showed what a great player he was."

As for Keegan's current managerial problems, Benitez said: "Newcastle were in a bad position before he took over but they have quality and experience and he will soon show that he is a manager of equal experience."

Of Owen's return, as Newcastle captain, Benitez said: "He was a great servant to Liverpool and an excellent finisher. I am sure he will start scoring again but hopefully not until after this match."

With Liverpool returning to fourth place in the Barclays Premier League with their win over West Ham, the manager stressed the players knew exactly what they have to do to secure Champions League qualification.

"It is back in our own hands now. If we win all our games from now we will finish fourth," he added.

"But Everton and Aston Villa are fighting for the position as well. It makes our derby game with Everton at the end of the month very significant, but there are plenty of games before that we must win, it will not depend on just one game."