Liverpool have been handed a huge boost ahead of the new season with Fernando Torres committing his future to the club by signing a new contract at the club.

The Spanish striker agreed the terms of the contract in May, but he has now confirmed his intentions by signing the relevant documents. This deal means that Torres is contracted to Liverpool until 2013, with the newest development being that an option for a further year has been added.

Club officials have described the news as ‘completing the formalities’ and this may well be the case, but it is still excellent news for Liverpool. It shows that Torres has absolutely no intention of leaving the club.

During a summer where Xabi Alonso has left for Real Madrid, this is very welcome indeed. Torres clearly wants to be successful with Liverpool.

Speaking about the striker – who has scored 50 goals for Liverpool so far – Rafael Benitez said that he is ‘one of the greatest strikers in the game today’ and that ‘every major side would want him’.

This is definitely the case. Torres is a born goal-scorer and as long as he stays fit, he will always score plenty of goals in the Premier League. He has even proved his quality on the international stage, so Liverpool know that they have one of the best strikers around.

Benitez is convinced that Torres can improve further during the rest of his time at Liverpool though. The former Valencia boss said that the 25-year-old ‘still has the hunger’ to make improvements to his game in a bid to help Liverpool win plenty of trophies over the next few years.

Dirk Kuyt, Daniel Agger and Steven Gerrard have all signed new deals this summer as well, so it has been a very productive time for Benitez who has extended his contract himself.

This sends out a very ‘positive message’ to the rest of the Premier League according to Benitez, so perhaps it will bode well for how they begin the season and pose the option for an opening premiership bet.

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