Benitez smells Reds forward line fear

Rafa Benitez is confident his new-look forward line of Robbie Keane and Fernando Torres will spark fear into Liverpool's main rivals.

The Reds boss handed Tottenham around £20million to secure the services of 28-year-old Republic of Ireland international Keane earlier this week. And he has already been encouraged with the partnership Keane has struck up with Spanish international Torres on the training ground ahead of the squad jetting out to Spain for Wednesday's friendly against Villarreal.

"I think all the defences will be worried about stopping them," said Benitez. "Other managers and defenders will be trying to sign players but with Robbie, Fernando, Steven Gerrard, Dirk Kuyt and Ryan Babel we will have great presence. It will be a big problem for other teams to cope with, that's for sure.

"And it will be important for Fernando to have another player around who can score goals.

"We've signed a lot of young players to guarantee the future and sometimes when you're very close, you need to sign experience and quality, too."

Meanwhile, Keane is looking to emulate the scoring feats of his fellow Irish compatriot John Aldridge at Anfield during his time at the club.

"John Aldridge and Ian Rush were my heroes. Obviously Aldo was Irish as well," Keane told the club's website.

"Aldo was fantastic. He has made no secret over the years of the fact he'd love to see me sign for Liverpool one day.

"He was a fantastic striker and if I can do as well as him it'd be great. If I can get anywhere near the respect he has from the people here than I will be happy."