Torres and Gerrard have bagged 46 goals between them this season, and Liverpool head for their showdown with leaders Manchester United tomorrow believing their form is good enough to shock the champions.

Torres has become the first Liverpool striker to hit 20 league goals in a campaign since Robbie Fowler 12 years ago, while midfielder Gerrard is one goal short of reaching 20 goals in all competitions for the third time in his career.

Benitez said of his golden double act: "The understanding between players is always important, especially players up front.

"The partnership between Torres and Gerrard has made a massive difference, it is difficult for teams to stop them both. We are profiting from this.

"They have trained together for months, and now it is easier for them to work together, it is easier.

"Both are scoring goals and things are easier because they are happy on the pitch."

Benitez is also more than happy with Gerrard's advanced midfield role of late, dovetailing well with Torres.

He said: "Steven is happy playing in this position, he is scoring goals and enjoying the way he is playing.

"We had some problems in which we could not control games we should have been controlling. So we decided on two holding players and Steven playing further forward with Torres, and it has worked really well."

Tomorrow's game is between two in-form teams. Liverpool have won seven on the trot including their last five in the Barclays Premier League, while United have won their last four league games in succession.

And Liverpool are more than aware of the embarrassing statistic that in the seven winless league games against United under Benitez, their only 'scorer' has been United's John O'Shea, with an own goal.

Benitez said: "As a manager I am disappointed that we cannot seem to beat them in the league. We get closer, and closer.

"But we are getting closer, we have confidence and know that we are capable of winning at Old Trafford. The team is playing well, and the difference could be a small detail or one fine player."

Benitez is only missing long-term injured defender Daniel Agger, who had a third -successful - operation on a broken metatarsal bone earlier this week.

Harry Kewell will captain Australia in Singapore this weekend, and is making all the right noises about fighting to the end to win a new contract with the club.

But it seems certain he will be leaving Anfield in the summer when his current deal expires, with Celtic interested.