Fernando Torres feels it is too early for Liverpool fans to be comparing him to club greats of yesteryear Robbie Fowler and Kenny Dalglish.
Torres has taken Anfield by storm this term and has more than justified the £21 million Rafa Benitez shelled out to lure him from Atletico Madrid in the summer.
Liverpool strikers have been in the shadow of Robbie Fowler and Michael Owen in recent seasons, but Torres’ haul of 22 league goals has thrust him into the spotlight.
The Spaniard is delighted with how he has been welcomed to Merseyside, but feels it is premature to mention him in the same breath as Anfield greats.
“I'm very proud (of the comparisons) but now is not the moment,” Torres told LFC TV. “Kenny, Robbie and Stevie [Gerrard] have a lot of trophies, a lot of titles and they have played hundreds of games for the club. They have been legends for lots of years.
"This is only my first season at Liverpool and I want to play better for many more seasons yet. So far I've had one good season but Kenny and Robbie have had six, seven, eight or ten good seasons at Liverpool. It's different.
"When I have finished my career then maybe that will be the moment to talk about these things but not now. It's too early.
"It's important to me that the fans think highly of me and if they're saying these things then I would say 'thank you, but not yet'."
Torres is revelling in life on Merseyside and has admitted he is looking to write himself into Anfield folklore.
When asked if he would like to remain a Liverpool player for the rest of his career, he replied: "I hope so. I feel very confident here. If we can win trophies, then much better. This is my team, my city and Anfield is my pitch. I feel very good.
"The best thing is for me to see my name on the shirts of our fans.
"It's strange in my first season because normally it would be Stevie or Carra but it's fantastic to see a lot of Torres as well.
"It's very important for me to make the fans happy. We play football to give them enjoyment. I think they love me and I love them. It's great when kids and their grandads come up to me in the street and say 'you're the best'.
"I was with Kenny Dalglish the other day and you could see in the faces of the people how much of a hero he is, 20 years after he finished his career. I want everyone to remember me in 20 years' time."
Torres has taken Anfield by storm this term and has more than justified the £21 million Rafa Benitez shelled out to lure him from Atletico Madrid in the summer.
Liverpool strikers have been in the shadow of Robbie Fowler and Michael Owen in recent seasons, but Torres’ haul of 22 league goals has thrust him into the spotlight.
The Spaniard is delighted with how he has been welcomed to Merseyside, but feels it is premature to mention him in the same breath as Anfield greats.
“I'm very proud (of the comparisons) but now is not the moment,” Torres told LFC TV. “Kenny, Robbie and Stevie [Gerrard] have a lot of trophies, a lot of titles and they have played hundreds of games for the club. They have been legends for lots of years.
"This is only my first season at Liverpool and I want to play better for many more seasons yet. So far I've had one good season but Kenny and Robbie have had six, seven, eight or ten good seasons at Liverpool. It's different.
"When I have finished my career then maybe that will be the moment to talk about these things but not now. It's too early.
"It's important to me that the fans think highly of me and if they're saying these things then I would say 'thank you, but not yet'."
Torres is revelling in life on Merseyside and has admitted he is looking to write himself into Anfield folklore.
When asked if he would like to remain a Liverpool player for the rest of his career, he replied: "I hope so. I feel very confident here. If we can win trophies, then much better. This is my team, my city and Anfield is my pitch. I feel very good.
"The best thing is for me to see my name on the shirts of our fans.
"It's strange in my first season because normally it would be Stevie or Carra but it's fantastic to see a lot of Torres as well.
"It's very important for me to make the fans happy. We play football to give them enjoyment. I think they love me and I love them. It's great when kids and their grandads come up to me in the street and say 'you're the best'.
"I was with Kenny Dalglish the other day and you could see in the faces of the people how much of a hero he is, 20 years after he finished his career. I want everyone to remember me in 20 years' time."
