Tortilla9

Great article about Fernando's loyalty. http://www.chelsea.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=522055 What so many LFC "fans" seem to forget: 1. Torres was asked to stay during the summer to help the sale of the club. Everybody knew he added value to the club. Fernando could have left earlier but he stayed to help the club. 2. Torres was one of the few players to speak publicly saying there needed to be new owners and Hicks and Gillette were killing the club. I don't remember the two local boys stepping out and saying that or did I miss that? I love how LFC now wants to throw Torres under the bus and make this all about a greedy player with no loyalty. If he didn't care about the club he could have put in his transfer request last summer, in the beginning of January. He respected their wishes and waited and only when they left him no option did he turn in his request. Maybe if they'd been a little smarter they wouldn't have had to pay $35 million for Carroll. Go Chelsea!

I'm still looking. http://www.dailyindia.com/show/422339.php It appears LFC wanted the Suarez negotiations to finish before they addressed the Torres situation. So maybe it wasn't a last 3 day issue as portrayed by LFC. I'm still looking for the story.

Anybody else seen the stories that Torres was due a large loyalty bonus this summer and that CFC and LFC had been in discussions about a transfer for 2 weeks? twitter.com/bensmith_times (I know..... )

I think it will be a low-key celebration because of his relationship with Pepe and his respect for Liverpool (even if the LFC fans don't see it). After this game, all bets are off though. On the other hand, if they're kicking the you know what out of him all game, he might have to drop the ball at the feet of Carragher (if he plays). That alone makes me laugh because Carragher would lose it.

Thanks! A follower of Torres through AM and the Spanish team. Watched Liverpool when Torres played. Weird to see him in the blue but it's growing on me. A side comment - I understand why Liverpool fans are so angry he's gone because he is so great. If he wasn't it wouldn't matter. They realize what they're losing. I don't think they realize a window for a top striker (which Torres is!) doesn't last forever. He's not like Pepe who can play until his late thirties. His time is now and he can't wait forever for Liverpool to rebuild, reorganize, etc. He carried the load and expectations of AM on his young shoulders for a very long time. Then he did it again at Liverpool. At some point a winner wants to win, not just a big game or two, but champions. That's why they're winners.

That's probably the Liverpool team except maybe Carragher back in the lineup for Skrtel. If he is, except his helium voice to be yelling scouse nonsense at Fernando. Cole may be lucky to see the bench. He doesn't seem to figure in Dalglish's plans. Suarez is a good talent. Didn't think he was an out and out striker, unlike Fernando.