Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez insists he would not swap striker Fernando Torres for Manchester United's Wayne Rooney.

Torres has managed 17 goals for the Reds this season despite only making 23 starts in an injury-hit third season at Anfield.

Rooney, meanwhile, has been the star of the Premier League season with 25 goals making him the league's top scorer.

The England international, who has 33 strikes in all competitions, is now being touted as the best player in the world.

Anfield boss Benitez appreciates Rooney's ability, but claims Torres is the player both he and the fans would choose over any other striker.

"Would I swap? No," Benitez told the Daily Star. "Fernando is a fantastic player, so is Rooney. There is no doubt Rooney is very, very good.

"But Fernando is our player. The fans here love him and we want to keep him for a very long time.

"He is very important to us and if he had been fit all season the gap between us and the top would have been a lot smaller, that is clear.

"If Fernando was fit, he would have scored in a lot of games for us. But we have to concentrate on what happens from now on."

Liverpool travel to Old Trafford on Sunday to take on the league leaders, a fixture which saw Benitez put one over on arch rival Sir Alex Ferguson last season with a 4-1 demolition of United.

Both Torres and captain Steven Gerrard were on the mark that day, and Benitez knows having both players available again this year can help them put a dent in United's bid for a fourth consecutive title.

"These games are massive," said the Spaniard. "If Gerrard and Torres are fully fit, then they can change games and win games.

"If the team is working hard and they are fine, then we can beat anyone."