Keane hails Torres tenacity May 11 2008
Tottenham striker Robbie Keane believes Fernando Torres has earned the respect of the Premier League for taking a battering from defenders as well as his goals.
There will be little to play for at White Hart Lane when Spurs host Liverpool but a goal from Torres would be significant, taking him past Ruud van Nistelrooy's league record for a foreigner's debut season in England.
Keane, who has 23 goals himself this campaign, has been impressed with Torres' attitude since arriving from Atletico Madrid, while his finishing speaks for itself.
The Irishman said: "For someone who has come here for his first season, to score so many as he has in incredible.
"People are impressed with his goals but it's his work-rate as well. He gets a few knocks and gets up. People respect him for that."
With Torres normally deployed in a lone-striker role, Jonathan Woodgate and Michael Dawson will have to combine to deny him a 33rd goal of the season.
In the Premier League the Spanish international has 23, one of which was a last-minute equaliser against the nortyh Londoners at Anfield.
Dawson told Spurs TV: "We did well against him earlier in the season but were disappointed not to win the game, the last-minute goal was devastating.
"We'll be ready and we know what to expect from all their players, they have depth in every position.
"Torres has been brilliant. The goals say it all. They all say it's hard when you first come but he's shown what a great player he is by scoring and also the way he has played.
"We kept him quiet for nearly the full game at Anfield but you have to be on full alert until that final whistle goes."
Spurs still have a chance to finish in the top half but it would require West Ham to also slip up against Aston Villa.
Keane is also level on goals with strike partner Dimitar Berbatov, with the pair previously talking about wanting to finish ahead of each other.
"Always in the last game of the season, everyone is on a high, looking forward to a break after a long season," Keane added. "We want to end on a high and at home we're quite capable of beating anyone.
"Personally, every season I want to do better and every season I've got better since I've been here, I want to keep improving and I'm happy if I'm scoring for the team."
Dawson also wants to end on a positive note to take into the summer.
He said: "The last game of the season, we all know what it means - you want to win and go on your holidays on a high and at home we can beat anyone."