Fernando Torres Heads An Illustrious List of 50-Goal Liverpool Greats

Before the Christmas football period, Fernando Torres stood on the cusp of greatness. Scoring 49 goals in 69 games meant that he was on the verge of becoming the fastest Liverpool player ever to reach 50 goals in the least number of games. Though it did not come against Portsmouth or Wolves, it finally came against top four hopeful, Aston Villa. And so, El Nino's 50 goals came in 72 Premier League games for Liverpool. That's a ratio of a goal in 1.45 games, an amazing strike rate! In only his third season, he has become a Kop legend.

Games it took the Liverpool greats to hit 50:

72 Fernando Torres

80 Sam Raybould

80 Albert Stubbins

81 Roger Hunt

82 Jack Parkinson

83 John Aldridge

84 Ian Rush

88 Robbie Fowler

90 Gordon Hodgson

98 Harry Chambers

98 Kenny Dalglish

98 Michael Owen

104 Joe Hewitt

105 Ian St John

111 John Barnes

114 Robert Robinson

116 John Toshack

121 David Johnson

125 Dick Forshaw

125 Tom Miller

129 Jimmy Melia

139 Jack Balmer

160 Berry Niewenhuys

162 Alf Hanson

167 Billy Liddell

175 Kevin Keegan

208 Jack Cox

221 Terry McDermott

269 Ray Kennedy

271 Arthur Goddard

280 Alan A'Court

281 Steven Gerrard

302 Steve Heighway

Torres also became the fourth fastest player to reach 50 goals behind Andy Cole, Shearer and van Nistelrooy. He has achieved the 50 mark without scoring a single penalty which is an amazing feat. All his 50 goals are from open play. Details of each goal can be found in the Liverpool club website.

Number of games it took for Premier League strikers to reach 50 goals:

65 - Andy Cole

66 - Alan Shearer

68 - Ruud van Nistelrooy

72 - Fernando Torres

83 - Kevin Phillips

83 - Thierry Henry

87 - Ian Wright

88 - Robbie Fowler

94 - Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink

94 - Teddy Sheringham

96 - Les Ferdinand

97 - Matthew Le Tissier

98 - Michael Owen

This is the goal against Villa that moved Torres into the all-time greats list in Liverpool history.

In less than three seasons, Fernando Torres has become the most feared striker in the Premiership. Simply an extraordinary player! In fact, Liverpool's goal against Torres has a familiar feel to it, a fast break move from Reina to Kuyt to Benayoun to Torres who finishes it off.

It's great to see the persistence and determination of last season back in the Liverpool players. Playing on the break seem to be the trend lately and it can prove highly effective especially when the team has pacey attackers and an intelligent goalkeeper. Counter attacking football is a great tactic to win soccer games.