Dirk Kuyt has given his backing to Fernando Torres to come good after a disappointing start so far to the season but insists that the Liverpool striker plays a vital role for the team, even when he is not finding the back of the net.

Liverpool were held to a 2-2 draw by Sunderland at Anfield on Saturday and have now managed just one win in their opening six fixtures of the Premier League season, which sees them nine points off the pace in the title race in sixteenth place in the table – their worst start to a season for 18 years – while they have already been dumped out of the Carling Cup by League Two minnows Northampton.

Torres has managed just one goal in the campaign to date, scoring the winner against West Bromwich Albion, but Kuyt has been quick to point out that he helped set up both goals against the Black Cats.

The first goal was surrounded by controversy as Torres picked up a back-heeled free kick from Michael Turner to run through unimpeded on goal before squaring for Kuyt to slide home, and the Spain international supplied the cross from which captain Steven Gerrard scored the equaliser.

Kuyt, who made an earlier-than-expected comeback from a shoulder injury on Saturday, said: “Everyone is expecting goals from Fernando but he offers a lot more. Against Sunderland he was responsible for setting up the two goals.

“He is very important for the team even if he is not scoring goals. I’m sure his goals will come.

“His mood has never changed. If you are a striker, and the type of striker Fernando is, you want to be involved in goals.

“But everyone could see how happy he was to have set up two goals.

“When you are one of the world’s best strikers everyone is watching you so if they get a moment to blame him they will.

“And if you are not winning games he is not happy, I am not happy and the team is not happy.

“But we all know next week he could score a hat-trick and then everything changes.”

Liverpool (2/5 favourites to win the group) are next in action on Thursday in the Europa League and will be looking to consolidate their position at the top of Group K, following their opening 4-1 success against Steaua Bucharest, with Napoli and FC Utrecht playing out a goalless draw in the other game.

Liverpool (Evens favourites in the match betting) travel to Netherlands on Thursday to take on FC Utrecht (23/10 to win, 9/4 the draw) but whether Torres plays in the match is open to question as he was left out of the squad that won the opening Group K fixture.

The former Atletico Madrid has been struggling for with injury since the World Cup and is slowly working his way back back into full fitness.

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