Fernando Torres

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres has been named the Barclays Player of the Month for February.

Torres receives the accolade for the first time after a brilliant run of form, which saw him score four goals in three Premier League games.

The highlight of the Spaniard's month came when he struck an excellent hat-trick - the second of which was a stunning 20-yard effort - in the 3-2 triumph over Middlesbrough at Anfield.

It was Torres' first league hat-trick for Liverpool since his £26.5million transfer from Atletico Madrid last summer.

The 23-year-old becomes the first Liverpool player - other than Steven Gerrard - to collect the award since Danny Murphy picked up the accolade in November 2001.