Liverpool striker Fernando Torres is excited about the prospect of returning to his old stomping ground after the Reds were drawn against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League group stages.

Torres achieved hero status at home-town club Atletico, spending 12 years with the Rojiblancos and becoming their youngest-ever debutant and captain before moving to England for a Liverpool club-record fee of around £20million in July 2007.

Now the 24-year-old Spain international is set to get a chance to return to the Vicente Calderon with Liverpool and Atletico both in Group D of the Champions League.

The first meeting between the two will take place in the Spanish capital on October 22, before the two clubs clash again at Anfield on November 4.

"It will be very special for me and I'm sure that I'm going to enjoy the experience," said Torres.

"I hope to get a good reception from the fans because Atletico gave me a lot, although I also gave a lot to Atletico.

"I understand that when the game starts they will see me as a rival, but I'll never forget the years I spent there. For me it will be an amazing feeling to run out onto the Vicente Calderon pitch again and meet up with old team-mates and friends."

The other two teams in Group D are PSV Eindhoven and Marseille in what appears to be one of the toughest pools to come out of the draw.

"It's a very difficult group, in which every game will be like a final," said Euro 2008 winner Torres on his personal website, www.fernando9torres.com.

"Marseille already made life very hard for us last season, beating us at Anfield and leaving us no option but to win at their ground to guarantee our qualification from the group.

"PSV Eindhoven are a tough rival and Atletico will want to give the best possible image of themselves.

"Without doubt my wish is that Liverpool and Atletico, in this order, get through to the last 16."