Carragher pins hopes on Torres March 17 2008
Jamie Carragher believes Liverpool's record signing Fernando Torres will be the deciding factor in their crucial run of fixtures.
Rafael Benitez's side face Manchester United this weekend before taking on derby rivals Everton and then Arsenal in three games that could define the Anfield club's season.
Torres helped the Reds to record their seventh victory on the spin after grabbing the winner in the 2-1 triumph over Reading.
The Spaniard is in a rich vein of form and his goal against the Royals saw him become the first Liverpool player to net 20 league goals since Robbie Fowler in the 1995/96 season.
Carragher is relishing the team's testing fixture schedule and believes Torres can help them overcome their rivals.
"Their top defenders will relish showing him what they can do but, let's face it, he's on fire at the moment and he can turn our season," Liverpool's vice captain told The Mirror.
"It can go two ways for us now. If we win the majority of our big games coming up, then we go on and have a fantastic season.
"If we don't then it is all doom and gloom again.
"We have five games against our three biggest rivals and they are going to be absolutely massive.
"But I relish those games, and if you are going to win trophies you have to win them. Nando can do that for us.
"Against United we didn't really make the most of him, he didn't play against Everton and came off injured at half-time against Arsenal.
"He hasn't really played against them."