LIVERPOOL (AFP) – Fernando Torres wants Liverpool to produce a Champions League miracle against Chelsea on Tuesday in memory of the 96 Reds fans who died at Hillsborough 20 years ago.
Wednesday marks the anniversary of the tragedy which occurred during Liverpool's FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest in 1989. The Liverpool supporters were crushed to death because of overcrowding on the terracing at the Leppings Lane end of Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough stadium.
Liverpool will hold a memorial for the victims at Anfield on Wednesday and Torres believes Rafa Benitez's side can pay their respects by overturning a 3-1 deficit against Chelsea in Tuesday's quarter-final second leg.
"My goals against Blackburn on Saturday were for the 96 and their families because I know that it was a special day for them with it being the home game closest to the anniversary," Torres said.
"The goals were more special because of the service on Wednesday, when we will see the families on an important day for them and for all Liverpool supporters.
"It makes Tuesday's game all the more important. We have to try to do it for the families and the 96 who died."
Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher, a boyhood Everton fan, had been at the other FA Cup semi-final that day watching the Toffees beat Norwich 1-0 at Villa Park. But elation soon turned to worry and fear for the then 11-year-old.
"I was just 11, quite young but old enough to understand what was happening," Carragher told Liverpool's website.
"In those days the semi-finals were played on the same day and at the same time, me being an Everton fan I was at Villa Park watching Everton play Norwich.
"I just remember an announcement at half-time that the Liverpool game had been abandoned. It was before mobile phones so no-one really understood what was going on. But obviously we knew there was a problem.
"It wasn't until we heard on the radio in the car on the way back to Liverpool what had really happened. It's amazing how it's 20 years ago and that it took people so long to find out. It just goes to show the difference between today and then."
Kop boss Rafa Benitez was coaching Real Madrid's youth teams in Spain when the tragedy happened, but he has learned enough since arriving at Liverpool in 2004 to know how deeply it affected the city.
"In Spain we didn't really realise the real problem initially, but after hearing the stories on the news we then realised the full extent," Benitez said.
"It was a tragedy that was so important, it is vital it is remembered.
"You look at your own daughters and imagine what it would be like for yourself, it is then you realise what a disaster it would be to be involved in something like that.
"You think about this when you are reading the names (of the 96 who died), you see the families and you can see what it means for everyone.
"I have been really impressed with the families and the effort they are putting in to retain good memories of the victims of Hillsborough.
"The families are doing really well trying to keep the good memories of the people, and you can see the staff here have always been there for them, and will always be there trying to support the families, the club will always be behind them.
"The first time I attended the memorial service I was amazed to see the people and the respect they showed. Every year when we go it is similar because you can feel what the families are feeling."
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