Liverpool striker Fernando Torres is confident he will be fit for Saturday's Merseyside derby clash with Everton.

Torres suffered a thigh injury in training with Spain last week and was initially expected to be out for eight to 10 days, but the former Atletico Madrid man is determined to make his derby debut.

"I intend to be fit for the Everton game on Saturday. I don't want to miss out on the derby, because it is such an important game," the Reds' club-record said.

Torres is now undergoing fitness work at Liverpool's Melwood training headquarters in a bid to be fit to face the Toffees.

Mikel Arteta's agent, meanwhile, is not surprised by reports that Real Madrid are interested in the Everton midfielder.

Arteta has been in superb form for David Moyes' side this season and the Spanish press are linking him with a return to his homeland as Real coach Bernd Schuster looks to shake up his squad at the Bernabeu.

The midfielder's agent Inaki Ibanez told Spanish sports newspaper Marca: "No-one from Real Madrid has come to us. But it is normal that a great club is interested in Arteta because he is doing very well."

The 25-year-old has also been linked to Chelsea and Real Zaragoza in recent weeks.