sport news Torres hails former Liverpool team-mate Steven Gerrard as Spanish striker ...

Fernando Torres hailed former Liverpool team-mate Steven Gerrard as the player who lifted his game 'into a different dimension' as the Spaniard confirmed he will end his 18-year playing career in August.

The former Liverpool and Chelsea striker, who has been playing in Japan for Sagan Tosu since leaving Atletico Madrid last year, announced his decision to retire last week.

Explaining his reasons for hanging up his boots in a Tokyo press conference on Sunday, the 35-year-old was asked to name the player who had made the biggest impression on him.

And Torres, who played at Anfield between 2007 and 2011, said: 'I always say the best player I played with is Steven Gerrard.

'I found he was the player who completed my game. I think my level got into a different dimension when I was on the pitch with him.

'It was an amazing three-and-a-half years playing alongside Steven and I would love to go back to those days - even for one minute.'

Torres said that he wanted to hang up his boots with a 'clear conscience' and before he reached the point where he was unable mentally and physically to continue.

'I have a high demand for myself,' he said.

'I've always wanted to be honest and to perform at the level I think I should and I think the time I will not be able to perform at the level I ask for myself is not far away and I don't want to arrive at the time that I am going on the pitch and I'm not enjoying it.

'I want to put an end before that happens. Knowing my body and listening to my body, I think especially mentally that time is not far away and I want to finish my career in a good way before that happens.'