Torres and Keane set to team up

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is set to field his £40m strike force of Fernando Torres and Robbie Keane for the first time in tomorrow’s friendly against Rangers at Ibrox and expects his side’s goal drought to come to an end.

Torres and Keane are expected to start in Glasgow as Liverpool start a run of three games in a week before their Champions League third qualifying round tie first leg away to Standard Liege.

Liverpool follow the Rangers trip with a game in Norway against Valerenga on Tuesday and then a home match with Lazio on the following Friday.

So far this summer Liverpool are unbeaten in five pre-season friendlies, but they have only scored four goals and managed goalless draws in the last two games.

But Benitez reckons all that will change once Torres and Keane start to hit it off.

He said: “In the last two games we have created several chances but either the opposition keeper has played really well to stop us from scoring or we have just missed the target.

“There is no problem. I am sure the goals will come and the important thing is that the players are creating chances.

“When they have more sharpness they will score more goals. At this stage it is all about preparing for the start of the season and I know that when the season begins my players will be ready.

“Last season Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard, Ryan Babel, Dirk Kuyt, Yossi Benayoun and Peter Crouch all got double figures for us, so I know we have the players to score goals.

“Crouch has left but we have brought in Robbie Keane, who also got double figures for Tottenham, so I am not concerned.”