We're coming to get you, Fergie - Liverpool's new No 7 Keane is determined to break United's Premier League dominance

By Colin Wood
Updated: 01:53 EST, 30 July 2008

Robbie Keane teamed up with Fernando Torres at Liverpool and immediately warned Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson: 'It's time we took our title back.'

The lifelong Liverpool fan admits he is too young to remember the club's last championship triumph in 1990, but Keane is convinced his new strike partnership with Torres can break United's grip on the Barclays Premier League.

After completing his £19million move from Tottenham, Keane said: 'Now I've fulfilled my dream of joining the club, I believe we can seriously challenge for the title.

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Howdy pardner! Keane (left) and Torres quickly get to grips with a title tilt as the Anfield duo go gunning for United

'My older brothers and the rest of the family are mad-keen Liverpool fans and always talk about the great days of the past. I hope I can be part of the team who finally win the League again.

'Liverpool have to challenge for the title - the fans expect it. At this stage of my career I want that chance to win more trophies and medals.'

Keane, 28, will play in Wednesday night's prestige friendly against Villarreal in Spain, although Torres is expected to get only a brief run-out.

Keane is confident of striking up the kind of relationship with Torres he enjoyed with Dimitar Berbatov at Spurs, and aims to help the Spaniard repeat the success of his first season in England when he fired 33 goals following a £20m move from Atletico Madrid.

'Dimitar and I had a great understanding - hopefully I can do the same with Torres,' said Keane. 'Fernando has been a revelation in the Premier League - he's probably the best striker in the world.'

Liverpool may have been forced to apologise to Spurs after Rafael Benitez made his interest in the Republic of Ireland striker known to the club website, but the Anfield boss believes it was well worth the trouble to complete a deal that could rise to £20.3m if they win the Premier League or Champions League.

Benitez is sure he has finally found the missing link in Keane. The manager said: 'If you want to be at the top of the table and fighting for trophies, you need good players and big names.

'Robbie is a very good player, a clever player. He can play on the right, as a central striker or in a deeper position. When you know you're very close sometimes you need a bit more quality and experience. Last season we had a lot of draws and maybe with more experience we could have won those games.'

Despite Spurs' anger over his departure, Keane said he could not turn down a second chance to join Liverpool more than a decade after opting for Wolves instead when he left Dublin junior side Crumlin United.

And he appreciates as much as anyone the significance of being given the red No 7 shirt made famous by Kevin Keegan and Kenny Dalglish.

'The No 7 jersey is massive,' said Keane. 'If I do half the job Keegan and Dalglish did at Liverpool I'll be happy.

'I always hoped I would get the chance again and I'm looking forward to putting that red jersey on. Playing Champions League football is important for me, but it's the whole package here.

'Back home in Dublin all us kids ever wanted were Liverpool tracksuits and jerseys at Christmas. Now I can get them for free at last!'