Rafael Benitez has revealed that even he has been taken aback by the remarkable performance of Fernando Torres during his first season in the Premier League.

The star-studded striker has taken the Barclays Premier League by storm, scoring 32 goals in his first season with Liverpool.

Rafa admits he has been shocked to see his record signing equal Ruud van Nistelrooy’s 23-goal record for most goals by a foreign player in a debut Premier League campaign with Manure.

“We analysed the age, condition, quality and mentality of the player before he arrived, so we knew he was a good player,” said Rafa to the Offish site. “That is why we signed him.

“But to score more than 30 goals in a first season is a fantastic achievement. It’s a surprise for everyone, not because we didn’t have confidence in him, but because it’s his first year in the Premier League.”

If Torres breaks Van Nistelrooy’s league record he will have to score away at White Hart Lane.

It is something he hasn’t managed to do well, with 21 of his 23 league goals coming at Anfield, but Rafa believes in El Nino and said in an pre-match interview to look at his goals in Europe, to prove he can score anywhere in the world.

“I don’t know why so many of his league goals have come at Anfield,” he said.

“For me, it’s a surprise because I’d have thought he’d score more goals away because of his pace and he’d get more space and it’d be easier for him.”

Maybe it’s because of the Anfield crowd which motivates him chanting his name. We hope he would surely score against Tottenham to put the icing on the cake.