Do Liverpool fans want him back? Would Chelsea sell? And would he be a success?
Fernando Torres has gone from being one of the world’s most feared strikers at Liverpool, to a laughing stock at Chelsea.
His latest unwanted statistic, is going 24 hours without a goal, while Lionel Messi eclipsed his tally in over a year at the club in just one match against Leverkusen last night.
Yesterday we posted a story profiling the six strikers Liverpool were linked with, and one of the fans to comment was adamant the club should bring Torres back to Anfield.
His record at Liverpool stands at 65 goals in 102 games, his adaptation to the Premier League was seamless, netting 33 goals in 46 games.
As you can see from those statistics, he was unable to sustain his initial strike rate, scoring 17 the next season, 22 the year after, and nine in the half season before he was sold to Chelsea.
But somewhere towards the end of Liverpool’s 2008-09 title charge, after he heroically tore Manchester United apart at Old Trafford, his muscle injuries started to catch up with him and he has never been quite the same since.
Was it Rafa Benitez’ fault for selling Robbie Keane and leaving David Ngog as Liverpool’s only support striker?
It was right to accept a £50 million bid for the Spaniard, but right now his time at Chelsea seems irreparable, the only way for him to recapture his form is surely to leave Stamford Bridge and start afresh.
Should Liverpool test the waters and offer Chelsea £20 million for him?
His value is difficult to assess, £20 million is far overpriced for him on current form, but if any club can get him back to his best, surely it is Liverpool, and if he can get back to his best, then potentially they will have got a bargain.
Nearly 28, he should have years of football left in him, but is it destined to be as a shadow of his former self, like former Liverpool starlet Michael Owen?
How likely is he to get back to his best? At the moment there are no indications that he ever will, and Chelsea will not sell him back for less than £20 million, already that would be a huge loss on their investment, but if Liverpool really were serious, they should throw in a bid and see what happens.
Could Torres be a hit again at Liverpool, or is it simply nostalgic to want him back at Anfield?
image: © Nigel Wilson
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