Manager Rafael Benitez believes star striker Fernando Torres is now the key man in Liverpool's Barclays Premier League title challenge.

The Spain international, who has suffered three separate hamstring injuries this season and started only 11 matches, showed he was back to his best with the late double that clinched yesterday's crucial 2-0 victory over Chelsea.

Torres had not scored at Anfield this term and had managed only six goals overall in a season so far ruined by injury.

But with the title race becoming intense, having Torres back to his very best is crucial for Liverpool.

Manager Benitez said: "Fernando has not had the match fitness he needs. Of course he can score goals, but he needed to be up to the right fitness level to do it. Now he has almost got there and you can see what he can do.

"But you can see the quality he has to score very important goals, and that will be really important for us now as the season comes to a conclusion.

"He is coming back to his best in every single game, you can see that quality returning for him all the time little by little.

"It was important for the team and also for him to see Fernando score.

"It's very important for the rest of the season and to see Fernando back with two goals."

Torres has now scored seven goals now in 13 league appearances, and he wants more as Liverpool try to rein in Manchester United's lead at the top which could be stretched to five points if the Red Devils win their game in hand.

Torres said: "The two goals against Chelsea were very important for me because they were my first goals after the injuries and we will all have more confidence after this.

"It is fantastic for me to score at home, and against Chelsea. It has been very frustrating not to be able to play. I am very happy, but more for the result."

Benitez also believes Liverpool's unbeaten record this term against their title rivals could be critical.

Including Aston Villa in the assessment, Benitez's side have not lost in five games so far against their rivals in the top five.

That includes a double over Chelsea, the first time they have done that since they last won the title in 1990, plus a win over Manchester United and draws at Villa and Arsenal.

Benitez said after yesterday's victory: "We knew this was a game we had to win. With Manchester United beating Everton on Saturday the gap was five points and we just had to take three points.

"Now every single game is important, but especially against teams who are close to us at the top of the table.

"It gives us more confidence. It was also important to end the run of draws we have had. If you are talking about winning the title every single point is important and drawing games always costs you two points.

"Now we are happy, the confidence is high and we must keep winning. But even though we have beaten Chelsea, we must win the next one as well, and keep going from there.

"What is important though is that we have not lost this season to any of the teams who are at the top with us. It is very important.

"I you want to be contenders, if you want to be closer to the title, that is the key point."

Torres added: "We needed to get the three points and stay close to Manchester United in the league.

"We knew before that we needed to win. We have a lot more confidence now, of course.

"It is a very long title race.

"We know that United are at the top of the table at the moment but we have time and are going to fight until the end. It brings us closer than before, and we know that we still have a chance."