Now that Robbie Keane has got his mock-disappointed statement out of the way, addressing Tottenham fans with his head held low, it’s party time for the Irishman as he breezes around Anfield, pinching himself to make sure this is all really happening.

The striker has been given the number seven shirt by Liverpool, won by former greats such as Kenny Dalglish and Harry Kewell (what do you mean, he was injured all the time?). And boy, is he excited about warming the bench the forthcoming season with the Merseyside club, with The Times reporting his joy at linking up with a certain Spanish striker.

“To wear that shirt is an honour and something I truly understand,” he said. “If I can have half as much success in it as Keegan and Dalglish did, I will be a happy man.”

Keane says he is also relishing the prospect of playing alongside Fernando Torres, who he describes as “the best striker in the world”. “He has been a revelation since he came to the Premier League,” Keane said. “He was absolutely outstanding last year and also in Euro 2008 with Spain.

“It is hard to leave Tottenham with some of the players they had - like Dimitar Berbatov, who I had a great relationship with - but Torres is probably the best striker in the world right now. Hopefully we can play a lot of games together and do well.”

Keane says he fully expects to be judged on the number of goals he scores but expects to play just off Torres in the Liverpool formation. “I see myself as a second striker,” he said.

Peter Crouch must be slightly puzzled, as Rafael Benitez never really mentioned the words ’second’ and ’striker’ in the same sentence to him apart from to say ‘Listen Peter, I’ll be with you in a second, I’m just going to tell my best striker how great he is’.

Liverpool fans, does this mean a change in formation from your Spanish manager?

Watch Liverpool live online

Watch Tottenham live online