After Liverpool’s loss at Manchester United in the FA Cup 3rd round, I wrote an article suggesting that it was time Fernando Torres left the Anfield club.During the game he offered nothing and looked like he would have rather of been anywhere else. Understandably, Liverpool fans jumped to his defence. But in hindsight, was it a good move for the club and the player?

To put it into context, the game I mentioned above saw Torres marked out of the game by Jonny Evans. We are talking about a striker who has on several occasions made fellow Manchester United centre-back, Nemanja Vidic, look stupid. I’m used to seeing the Spaniard chase lost causes, harass defenders and scoring wonder-goals, not trying to find his way out of a pretty ordinary defender’s pocket. What’s more, his reaction to being subbed was almost non-existent. His team were 1-0 down to their biggest rivals and faced being dumped out of the cup – the only chance left of any silverware this season – at the first hurdle. Was he bothered?

To put it bluntly, he didn’t want to be there and probably hasn’t done for a while. The problem is Liverpool have spent the last 12 months trying to accommodate a player who wasn’t willing to put the work in for them. That’s not to say that has always been the case. But in fairness to Torres, Liverpool haven’t exactly been operating at the top level recently. He moved to Anfield to win trophies and in that respect, nothing has changed.

I don’t agree with his timing, or the way he has set about rubbing it in his former club’s nose that he is now a Chelsea player, and ‘finally playing for a top club’, after all, Liverpool have much more history than the London side. But Torres had to move. Why stay with a team you no longer have any desire to do well for, especially if you are as good as he is? Liverpool merely served to pay him a ridiculous amount every week for very little in return.

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Phil Thompson was questioned about Torres’ move before the Tuesday night fixtures and his reaction was one of pure anger towards the forward. As a Liverpool fan, Thompson is another who blindly defended Torres despite what the rest of us could see. This week, in between all the exasperation and emotion, he attempted to point out that Liverpool are bigger than Torres and his move was disrespectful to everyone at the club. He was clearly wound up, but why? It wouldn’t be the first time a world-class player stops performing because he wants out. If he wanted to go, then Liverpool made the right decision in trying to get as much as they could for him.

£50 million is a lot of money, and to be fair to the club, they have used it to reinvest. Luis Suarez has real pedigree and it’s a shame we don’t get to see him alongside Torres. Andy Carroll is a gamble at £35 million but at least the club are showing some ambition. For far too long they have been playing a way to suit Torres because they haven’t had another option, but now they do.

As far as Torres is concerned, instead of doing his best to talk himself into trouble, he needs to concentrate on playing for Chelsea. He moved to win trophies and he has as good a chance as he will ever get.

Chelsea spent £50 million to turn their season around. Torres moved to win trophies and Liverpool sold to get rid of a disruption. The move has been a long time coming and seems the best solution for all concerned. The Kop now have a new number 9 to worship, and whatever you may think about Carroll, he will certainly give his all. Fernando who?

The article was written by James Ireson for FootballFancast.com. Make sure to check out the latest news, blogs and podcasts at FFC – ed.

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