Torres wants trophy life at Liverpool

A stunning hat-trick against Middlesbrough made him Liverpool's first 20-goal marksman since Michael Owen five years ago and no one was going to deny him his moment.

Not even referee Lee Mason, who seemed reluctant to part with the match ball at the end, until Torres wrenched it off him and marched away to thunderous applause.

Once the acclaim had died down, though, Liverpool's £21million record signing cast an eye over his progress so far in the same cool, discerning manner that has already helped establish him as the scourge of defences.

Others may be getting carried away with his spectacular exploits but the former Atletico Madrid striker chose to look at the bigger picture, saying: 'Perhaps people will consider it a successful season for me but I will only think that way if we win something.

'I am 23 and have never won a medal. I have come here to win titles and whether it is this season, next season or whenever, that is the target. I hope I am here for a long time, maybe even more than the six years on my contract, and that when I finally finish I will be remembered as someone who helped Liverpool win trophies.

'That would mean more to me than just being thought of as a great goalscorer. It was fantastic to score my second Liverpool hat-trick and first at Anfield, particularly completing it in front of the Kop.

'I watched a lot of Premier League games when I was in Madrid and I knew it would be difficult playing here. The defenders are very strong so I have to say it is a surprise I have scored this many goals so quickly. This is my best tally so far and with the possibility of another 18 games, I hope there might be a few more.'

Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate may have complained that basic errors cost his side but there could be no mistaking the quality that turned them into goals.

Julio Arca's back header from fully 40 yards was ill-advised, to say the least, but Torres's composure in drawing Mark Schwarzer and rounding him before riding a desperate lunge from Emanuel Pogatetz and scoring from an angle was the mark of a player who would surely walk into any side in Europe.

His second reinforced the view, an unstoppable 20-yard drive out of nothing, and even the third owed much to a rare instinct for goal, for all the flawed defending that contributed to it.

Schwarzer inexplicably rushed from his area and collided with David Wheater, and Torres almost seemed to sense it would happen as he manoeuvred himself into position and hooked the ball into an empty net before either Boro player could react.

It took his total to 21, an exceptional return for a newcomer to English football, but still Rafa Benitez is not satisfied.

The Liverpool boss said: 'He is already one of the best in the Premier League, a player with pace, strength and aerial ability, but he knows there is still plenty of room for improvement, particularly with his finishing and control.

'I spoke to him only this week about the things he needs to work on and the good thing is he is a willing learner who is committed to improving himself. He is learning the killer instinct of a striker and it looks very positive.'

Middlesbrough led through a Tuncay header and gave themselves late hope with a Stewart Downing goal, only for Jeremie Aliadiere to leave them one short by picking up a red card for slapping Javier Mascherano seconds later.

Southgate could hardly take his defenders to task after coming up short against Torres two-and-a-half years ago. He said: 'It was a pre-season friendly and he scored that day in a 2-1 Atletico win. He was outstanding then and you could see he would have no problem fitting into the English game. I have to say I didn't do particularly well against him and maybe it was no coincidence I retired not long after.'