LIVERPOOL: Fernando Torres signed a new contract with Liverpool on Friday and then told his team-mates they have a golden opportunity to end the club’s 19-year wait to win the English title this season.

Spain striker Torres agreed an improved deal that will keep him at Anfield until 2013 with the option of a further year’s extension and he insists there are no excuses for not winning the title. “Fernando Torres has put pen to paper on a new and improved contract at Anfield,” Liverpool confirmed. “The 25-year old striker agreed the terms of the deal back in May and has now completed the formalities of signing the new contract.”

Rafa Benitez’s runners-up finished just four points behind Manchester United in the

Premier League last season

and Torres is confident Liverpool can hold their own

against the top four rivals. He believes landing wins rather than draws in some of the other tricky fixtures, like Sunday’s Premier League opener at Tottenham, will be enough to overhaul United.

“We have no problem beating Manchester United or Chelsea but it is games like Sunday’s at Tottenham where we need to show our real title intentions,” Torres told The Sun. “Tottenham is not an easy place to go but these are games we must be winning if this is to finally be our year. I am not thinking can we win the title, I am thinking we have to win the title,” he added.