In a statement that should be of interest to Mario Balotelli, Steven Gerrard has claimed Liverpool's famous 4-0 win against Real Madrid in 2009 was due to the aggression showed by their outstanding centre-forward on the night, Fernando Torres. Although current Champions League holders Real are favourites at Anfield on Wednesday night, one factor in Liverpool's favour is their last European clash – which The Reds won 5-0 on aggregate in the last-16 of the competition. Gerrard scored twice in the Anfield romp and Torres and Andrea Dossena were also on target for Rafa Benitez's side in a humiliation for the Spanish side that prompted them to go out and spend £80million on Cristiano Ronaldo the following summer.
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Steven Gerrard has claimed Liverpool's famous win against Real Madrid was due to the performance of former Reds striker Fernando Torres
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The win prompted Real's £80million signing of Cristiano Ronaldo the following summer
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The Liverpool captain's comments will prick the ears of Mario Balotelli, who has had a disappointing start to his Anfield career
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With Luis Suarez gone and Daniel Sturridge still injured  manager Brendan Rodgers will have a big choice whether to stick with the Italian
When giants come into town like @placeholder and you get the result, it makes for fantastic memories.'