Mr Aziz

touché Good points well made. I did think it was a bit funny. As I've said all along - and on here - I was gutted at losing El Nino. Class player. But having a chat with a sports journo mate today and he made a couple of very good points. Michael Owen was nowhere near as good a player at 26 as he was at 21. Neither was Robbie Fowler. They are just a couple of examples from my own team, I'm sure there are plenty more. The flip side is the like of Drogba, class, and Sheringham, who have matured with age. But neither of them were/are particularly quick players. Feel free in years to come to prove me wrong, but I think we got the better deal.

This is a great website, that kinda sums up the whole Torres issue to a tee: http://hastorresscoredforchelsea.com/

What's the difference between Fernando Torres and Heather Mills? One's a one-footed, money grabbing whore and the other used to be married to Sir Paul McCartney! Sorry couldn't resist. I'm sure he'll come good one day.

You're talking sense MOD. It's more about our academy set up - it is first rate and was run by dalglish before he got the job. I do wonder about Torres and drogba. I think drogba is class. Always lived him. And Carra - who was boss (that's northern for very good!) today speaks very highly of him, but it's time for him to move on I think. As for cole.... f**k knows. Watched him play 45 for reserves v city the other week (it might aa well have been played on a park) and he was average at best. Still rate him though - and hopes he comes good. Before Torres left I'd have hoped you'd have won the league - but not now he's there. Just didn't look right in blue!! Off to bed - see you all before our next game. And as we're too sh*t for anymore champions league guess that'll have to be next season.......

Maybe outplayed is a little OTT but I thought we did well. I said before if we get to an hour at 0-0 then we'd stand a chance. And we did. I love (d) Torres more than life itself but I'm happy with what we got in return - and neither of them played today. From an outside point of view I don't see were chelsea's future lies. Little, if nothing, coming through from your youth (Kelly today was class as he's been all season) and their are more in reserve. Keep on buying, some of your signings will work, others won't. As for Torres it remains to be seen. But mark my words, he'll never get the same support, love and admiration he did at anfield

I think it's a little (alot) unfair to say chelsea were poor. We were far, far better. Maxi should have made one in first half and aurelio three at the end. Chelea were outplayed. Good luck fitting Torres into your extremely narrow formation

Chelsea played sh*te. Torres wasnt in the game bar once chance. How bad would it be if we finished 4th and Chelsea 5th. Surely not.....

And why you brought sideshow bob on after going one down I'll never know

That was easy. Easiest game v Chelsea for a while. Thought you were awful. Liverpool had a game plan, 0-0 for an hour or so then grab the winner. Torres will struggle. See you all next season....!!

I dont think we're demanding £50m - that's just the clause in his contract. If you want him now that's what you'll have to pay - or very close to it. I'd be disappointed if we don't get Anelka as it gives us little time to buy another striker. But all in all good business. He'll do well for Chelsea cos he's a great player. Moody c**t though of late.

That's right. Have a look at the article I posted from the NOTW on the previous page. El Nino has become El Sulko over the past six months or so which is why I think the majority of Reds' fans will be happy to take Chelsea's millions. Plus the other key thing to remember is not that he's injury prone, but when he is injured he takes a number of matches to get back to full sharpness. Pace is his clear skill and the older you get the more difficult it is to recover from injuries. I'll still miss him though.

Torres needs a great passer in midfield. That's why he was so narked when Alonso left. Failing that he needs to play upfront on his own - with a great attacking midfielder behind him, again this is why the partnership with Gerrard has worked so well. Drogba's class. Always liked him, and Carra is forever going on about how he's the most difficult striker in the Prem. Just don't know how well he'll do alongside Drogba. He's never played with a strike partner with Liverpool and, correct me if I'm wrong, but him and David Villa rarely start on the same pitch for Spain, if they do, Villa tends to play wider.

Have you noticed when Torres has turned it on this season though its only been for a half per game? Is the Adams deal definitely happening? Yeah, I think you're right. But half a Torres is better than all of David N'gog or anyone else we have. I strongly believe Adams will come. I think it's been in the bag for a while but Blackpool wanted to keep him for the Manchester Utd game last week. Not quite a blue chip signing but in this day an age, if we get him for £6m or something close then I think it could be alright. We'll see. Next 24 hours are gonna be very interesting.

Average this season, yes. But there's no doubt he's a quality, quality player. And on his day - as Chelsea fans well know - he can be unplayable. He's class, and up until last Friday I loved him more than life itself. Some LFC fans are wrongly saying we shouldn't be selling him to a rival team, but Chelsea are not a rival team. You're better than us. No doubt. Torres will go, infact I'd say he's already gone. We've got Suarez, Adams will be signing tomorrow, and I wouldn't be surprised if we throw a cheeky £20m bid in for Ashley Young. Throw Anelka into the package and it's not been that bad a transfer window for us.

Just dont agree mate. Think it's a done deal. Wouldn't really want him now. He's got it together last week or so under Dalglish, but on the whole he's been fairly average this season. This is the piece from the News of the World this morning by Chris Bascombe..... FERNANDO TORRES has been desperate to quit Anfield for Stamford Bridge for more than a year. Torres's wish to join Chelsea has been an open secret at Liverpool since his representatives first told the club their star brand was unsettled in December 2009. This week's transfer request is not a knee-jerk reaction to another poor season. The previous Kop regime was left in no doubt Torres would ask to quit the club if Chelsea made a mega bid. Liverpool's new owners anticipated a new offer during this transfer window. It shocks no one at Anfield he wants to go, but it is the late timing of Chelsea's move which has caused consternation. There is disbelief the player would willingly leave Kenny Dalglish in the lurch for the rest of the campaign as the new manager bids to cement his position. Torres has given plenty of hints about his state of mind in the last year, speaking publicly about the terrible transfers of 2009 and their impact on the squad, specifically the sale of Xabi Alonso. The current miserable campaign compounded the 26-year-old's yearning to leave at the earliest opportunity. He thinks the chance to go to Stamford Bridge may not come again. Liverpool knew their ongoing Champions League absence, likely to last a further 18 months, would force Torres to look elsewhere. His original plan was to enjoy a sparkling World Cup and say goodbye. He told team-mates he was desperate to follow Yossi Benayoun to Stamford Bridge last summer, but the option was cut off and instead he surprisingly declared ongoing loyalty to his No.9 shirt. The Merseysiders were given an unexpected reprieve only because of his injuries and loss of form in South Africa. Liverpool did not receive a decent offer last summer. Manchester City bid £70million when Torres was at his peak in 2009. The Spanish striker did not fancy City and Liverpool had just challenged for the title. Torres wanted more. He sought assurances a takeover would lead to a mass influx of players By last July, a paltry £25m from Chelsea was on the table. Torres knew that was not enough to force the issue in the same manner as this week, but he and his representatives were desperate for Chelsea to return. That is despite Liverpool indulging his ego to extraordinary degrees to keep him. Former managing director Christian Purslow gave him a £30,000-a-week pay rise, a lucrative image-rights package and a personal physio at Melwood to deal with his countless muscle strains. He was granted the notorious £50m exit clause in his £120,000-a-week deal which was activated last summer. That was part of a guarantee the club would be sold during the course of this season, while preserving the player's value if his dip in form continued. Torres wanted more. He sought assurances a takeover would lead to a mass influx of players. Liverpool never gave that, but strangely he was seduced by the claims of Chinese suitor Kenny Huang, who tried to buy the club. Huang suggested there would be a kitty to buy anyone in the world, including Didier Drogba and Andres Iniesta. It was pure fantasy but Torres was taken in. When Huang's 'bid' for Anfield failed - the money for a deal simply not there - and the more sober promises of New England Sports Ventures followed, Torres felt deflated. This moodiness has shown in his performances when 'El Nino' has been more like 'El Sulko'. An introverted presence around the club's training complex, there has been resentment at the manner he has hidden behind off-field problems to excuse poor displays. There have been moments of genius - ironically, Chelsea suffered more than most - but there is damning evidence of his fall in standards. Many blamed a shift in tactics by Roy Hodgson, but there was more to it. Liverpool's own Pro-Zone analysis, the data used by all professional clubs, was handed to Torres last month to send him a message about his performances. Last season he averaged 59 runs per match. In the January home defeat against Wolves, the loss which effectively sealed Hodgson's fate, he made 23. The accusation from his own coaching staff was he was not trying hard enough. Chelsea have always been seen at Anfield as the antithesis to how Liverpool perceives itself Excuses will be offered on his behalf. In fact, the recent takeover and appointment of Dalglish is a bit of an inconvenience to Torres and his PR team. They will stress the disastrous former American regime and reign of Hodgson gave Torres no choice but to go. Like everyone connected to Liverpool FC, he was disillusioned under Tom Hicks and George Gillett. But they have gone. His relationship with Rafa Benitez had deteriorated and the pair fell out last season. He has gone. Torres had no relationship whatsoever with Hodgson. He has gone. Any accusation Liverpool lack ambition in the week they have broken their transfer record will not add up, either. The process of overhauling the squad has begun with the signing of Luis Suarez. Liverpool intend to add more by tomorrow, with Blackpool's Charlie Adam hoping to complete an £8m deal. Instead, Torres wants to be the first deal of Chelsea's rebuilding project. His destination erases any sympathy on the Kop. Chelsea have always been seen at Anfield as the antithesis to how Liverpool perceives itself. Torres, a supposed student of Anfield history, has overlooked two traumatic recent chapters. Steven Gerrard faced terrible abuse for twice flirting with the Londoners. Michael Owen was accused of treachery for leaving at the end of the transfer window when it was too late to find a replacement. Anyone who doubts the player's complicity in the timing of this bid must believe in Easter bunnies. With the Liverpool players having two days off, Torres fled to Spain hours before the news of Chelsea' s bid went public last Thursday. That will shock the Kop who will argue that if this had to happen, the least the club deserved was time to replace him. Last night Torres was due to return to England, no doubt hoping he would have permission to fly back to Heathrow rather than Liverpool. Liverpool are losing the fight to keep him, but in truth there has been a shift in mood during the course of this season. They will not pander to the needs of "Brand Torres" any more. Club statements insist he is not for sale, but they are resigned to his departure. Most likely that will be tomorrow, but definitely before the start of next season. Unlike previous rebuttals which were kept private, Liverpool have opted for complete transparency this time. That is significant. The hard line has set the tone that they will not accept less than their £50m valuation. They want the Kop to know they are dealing with a player who has been determined to go for a long time. They want the Kop to know that when Torres is paraded in his Chelsea shirt, he will be realising a dream he has harboured far too long to justify his right to wear the Liverpool jersey any longer.

& he's not at Melwood today. In Spain but word is he's flying back to London to sort it out this afternoon.

Im a Liverpool fan and I pop on here from time to time, normally before we play each other. We're resigned to the fact that Torres is going. No doubt about it. Timing was a little off with him not giving us much time to replace - which is why I think Anelka coming to us would be a good deal. Torres is a class player. You should read what Chris Bascombe wrote in the News of the World this morning about the situation. Chris is normally spot on. Just hoping there's something written in the deal that he doesn't play against us next week cos he's bound to score. Although it would be funny if you end up finishing fifth this season and El Nino has to ply his tried in the Europa league. Wishful thinking, but it could happen......

Well done. Thought one goal was about right, two a little unfair but could see it coming. Lampard had a good game in a more defensive position as did your goalie. I do like Drogba and rate him, but think he's still a bit of a twat. I thought Yossi should have played from the start as he made things happen when he came on. Torres was quiet but obviously i still love the man more than life itself. i'll be back on here come may 1st when we play you at our place - although I'm sure there'll be cup games and champions league matches before then as per usual. f**kers!!

You might be right, have to wait and see. Just think with all the hype about torres, drogba and both our poor defences then maybe we'll just end up cancelling each other out Be interesting to see how Gerrard handles getting followed all over the park by Essien because he couldn't handle it last time.

Dunno. Depends how good his kebabs are.

Nah, aint no Red Rob. sorry to disappoint.

I know, was only winding you up. We've certainly made it tough for ourselves after that performance in Italy but we've been in that situation before. Still alot of Champions League football to play. Lyon at home next game is crucial.

I didn't think chelsea fans sang at football matches. Just think this match maybe a bit of an anti-climax, draw or a one nil either way. we'll see. And lets be honest, we'll ply each other again in one of the cups of CL Im sure.