Torres gives some Player Advice to Benitez

'El Nino' reckons the Reds would do well to raid the Mestalla this summer...

Fernando Torres has urged the powers that be at Liverpool to draft in creative, attacking talent - or, to be more specific, the likes of his fellow Spain stars David Villa, David Silva and Juan Mata.

The Valencia trio are among the Primera Division's most exciting players, and Torres believes the Reds need to buy someone of that ilk if they wish to catch Manchester United next season.

According to the News of the World, he said, "We have some very good players but maybe we need other players. I hope Liverpool will bring people like Silva, Mata or Villa.

"These are small players with quality like United had with Carlos Tevez and also with Paul Scholes. They are clever players and maybe they can make the difference."

However, Liverpool's relatively tight budget means that unless a Xabi Alonso or Javier Mascherano is sacrificed, Los Che's star attackers are almost certainly out of reach.

But Torres has said in the past that he doesn't believe big spending is necessary to keep the Kop club competitive, and he pointed to one of Rafa Benitez's bargain buys as proof.

"Yossi Benayoun plays like these kind of players and I hope we can bring more like that so then we have different options to play against all the sides," he said.

For while the Anfield giants were impressive against their direct rivals last term, they struggled regularly to break down weaker opposition - particularly, and alarmingly, at home.

Thus, Torres is eager to see a jinking genius or two arrive on Merseyside this off-season, as he reckons this type of player will be crucial in getting the better of the lesser sides in the Premier League.

"It was frustrating but football is difficult against the smaller teams. We need players with quality to try to win these matches and I want Liveprool to sign players like this," the striker said.

"We finished four points behind United but we are improving. We are getting more points every season. I know that every year we can finish with more points.

"I have recommended the names to Benitez and I hope we have the money."