Fernando Torres has hailed his 'icon' Steven Gerrard and credited the Rangers manager for "completing his game" during his spell at Liverpool.

The Spanish forward enjoyed four years at Anfield alongside captain Gerrard and the pair struck up a serious partnership.

Torres bagged 81 goals in 142 games across the four seasons and Gers boss Gerrard will no doubt have provided assists for the majority of those strikes.

In a Liverpool feature on their YouTube channel for Torres' birthday, their official TV channel sat down with the striker and asked him to pick his best XI from his career. And it was little wonder that Gerrard was first pick - and would skipper the side if it ever became a reality.

"In the midfield, the more advanced position is Steven Gerrard," Torres said. "He is my icon player. I need Steven in the team, any system, any team, he'd play for me.

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"Obviously [he's] the most important player in that role as a number 10 or a little bit in front of Javier Mascherano and Xabi Alonso. He's the best player I played with, I've said that many times.

"He's the player who completed my game. There is a before and an after since I played with him so I'd make him captain of my team and I'd be so happy to be able to play with him again."

Torres' XI: Oblak, Godin, Puyol, Terry, Mascherano, Alonso, Gerrard, Iniesta, Xavi, David Villa, Torres.