Kuyt Expects Torres To Stay At Anfield

Dirk Kuyt has dismissed
speculation about Fernando
Torres' state of mind and insists
the struggling hitman has a key
role to play at Liverpool. The
Spain international has provided
the assists for the Reds' last four
goals; winning the penalty and
free-kick against Manchester
United which allowed Steven
Gerrard to hit a double and then
setting up Kuyt and the captain
again in yesterday's 2-2 draw
with Sunderland. However, he
has scored only once for
Liverpool so far this season - the
winner against West Brom - and
has started to show signs of
frustration on the pitch. Reports
regularly claim the 26-year-old is
unhappy and is considering
leaving Anfield, as happened in
the summer, but Kuyt said
Torres' quality would see him
through. "Everyone is expecting
goals from Fernando but he
offers a lot more. Against
Sunderland he was responsible
for setting up the two goals,"
said the Holland international,
who returned to action against
the Black Cats earlier than
expected after a shoulder injury
earlier this month. "He is very
important for the team even if he
is not scoring goals. I'm sure his
goals will come. "His mood has
never changed. If you are a
striker, and the type of striker
Fernando is, you want to be
involved in goals. "But everyone
could see how happy he was to
have set up two goals. "When
you are one of the world's best
strikers everyone is watching
you so if they get a moment to
blame him they will. "And if you
are not winning games he is not
happy, I am not happy and the
team is not happy. "But we all
know next week he could score
a hat-trick and then everything
changes." Kuyt, who is hoping to
be picked to face his former club
in Europe on Thursday, admits
Liverpool have yet to get into
gear after their worst start to a
top-flight season for 18 years,
with just six points from as many
games. "We are not at our level
yet because if we were in our
best shape we would win these
games," he said. "Every day
everyone is working very hard to
get there, unfortunately against
Sunderland it didn't happen but
we can't wait for the next
opportunity to change it. "We as
players want to win every game
and challenge for trophies but
the situation at the club we have
to be patient. "If you are at
Liverpool expectations are
always high and you are
expected to win every game. "If
you lose or draw people are not
happy and we are not happy and
that is what we are at the
moment. "Things will come
because we know we have
quality and it just takes time. "We
all want to win and challenge for
things and I am sure it will
happen if we keep working. "But
we have to make sure we get
some points in (against
Blackpool) before we go away
for the international break."