Liverpool striker Fernando Torres has seemingly confirmed he is staying at Liverpool this season, saying "My commitment and loyalty to the club and to the fans is the same as it was on my first day when I signed".

"I am looking forward to the challenge ahead," Torres said. "From my first day I got the same welcome as Stevie [Gerrard] or [Jamie Carragher] or players who have been here for a long time.

"I felt at home from the first day, I feel the fans love me and everyone knows I am really happy here and really happy to play at Anfield. As I said earlier, I'm looking forward to starting the season and playing with my teammates and for the fans."

The Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson claimed last week that Torres had committed his immediate future to the club, but speculation was always likely to persist until the player himself made a public announcement. Torres, for his part, said he had been impressed by his new manager.

"I really appreciated the fact that Roy came out to see me while I was on my holidays," said Torres. "He told me about his plans for the club and what he wanted from me and I appreciated that. I hope he will be the right man to reach the targets of Liverpool Football Club and I am really looking forward to working with him. At the moment I am training just on my own but as soon as I can I will train with the team and with the new manager."

Torres added that he was excited by the addition of Joe Cole. "I think Joe is exactly the kind of player we need to improve the history of our club," he said. "He is the kind of player I like to play with and the kind of player who can take the team to a higher level. His passing is unbelievable so hopefully he can start the season well because I am sure he will be a key player for us."

Asked what his targets were for the upcoming season, Torres said he expected the club to challenge on all fronts. "This is the best club in the country so the targets and expectations are always high," he added. "Hopefully we can stay at our level. At Liverpool the aim is to fight for every title. It was difficult last season but we are sure we can improve this season

"I know that one trophy here at Liverpool - maybe the Premier League - means more than three or four with another club. This was my target from the day I came and it's still my target. Hopefully this season we can feel this sensation here at Liverpool."