Can Iago Aspas Replicate Fernando Torres?

Liverpool have handed iconic number 9 shirt to new summer signings Iago Aspas. The former Celta Vigo starlet takes the vacant shirt that was last worn by British record signing Andy Carroll who recently completed his move to West Ham United.
The Anfield faithful will be hoping that Aspas does not turn out to be like their last owner of number 9 shirt who could not even take his league tally to double figures despite featuring in 44 games. Instead the fans would like Aspas to replicate former star striker Fernando Torres.
The question is, can Iago Aspas replicate Fernando Torres’s Liverpool record?
Surely by replicating we mean El Nino’s goal scoring record, not the way he departed to Chelsea. Understandable that making such comparisons at this point might not be fair and may put the new signing under pressure.
However, while playing for Liverpool, the pressure is always going to be there. Adding to that the club’s decision to hand him the shirt number worn by Anfield legends like Ian Rush and Robbie Fowler itself is a big deal and perhaps increases fans expectations as well.
Wearing the coveted number 9 shirt, Fernando Torres became the darling of the Kop. He holds the record of scoring the fastest 50 goals for the club, faster than top top players like Dalglish, Aldridge, Owen, Fowler and Rush.
Torres never scored 20 league goals in a season for Atletico and after joining Liverpool broke Ruud Van Nistlerooy’s record of scoring most league goals by a foreigner in debut season.
Aspas only completed his first ever campaign in top flight last season with Celta Vigo and then to move to premier league immediately is a big step up for him. The Spaniard has the ability to play both out wide and as a central striker. You do not see a number 9 playing out wide normally but that is a possibility in Rodgers’s system.
The major aspect is that whether Aspas will be starting week in week out for the Reds. In case Suarez stays, the possibility of Suarez, Coutinho and Sturridge starting as front three in 4-3-3 formation seems likely. Nevertheless, Aspas can earn his place by coming for the bench and impressing.
Replicating Torres is always going to be hard as arguably he has been the best striker Liverpool have had in the past decade but the fans will be glad if Aspas can contribute with his all-round performances as he did score 12 times and provided 7 assists in La Liga last season.
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