EPL ~ Chelsea v Liverpool

• zocoss

  1 Feb 11, 21:44

   

  

  UP FOR IT... Torres "support of the Chelsea faithful is all that matters to me"

   

   

  Sunday, 6 February 2011

   

   

  Chelsea v Liverpool      12:00am (Mon Morning)     Mio  102 / 110

   

   

   

   

  FERNANDO TORRES insists he will have no problem shooting down Liverpool on Sunday.

  Torres, 26, is in line to make his Chelsea debut against his former club following his £50million switch from Anfield. And the Spanish striker has told Carlo Ancelotti not to worry about throwing him straight into action at Stamford Bridge.

  He said: "It is like destiny. It is not perfect for me but we will see what happens and I only have good words about Liverpool. "They made me a top player and gave me the chance to play at the top level. I will never say anything bad about Liverpool.

  "I have been very happy there but now the history is different and I am playing for Chelsea. "If I have the chance to play, I will do my best for Chelsea and hopefully I can score."

  Torres admits he first started thinking about leaving Liverpool last summer. He gave Roy Hodgson his full backing and appeared to be returning to peak form following the arrival of Kenny Dalglish.

  But the World Cup winner has revealed there was no way he could reject a move to London. He added: "I felt from last summer that I needed to do a step forward in my career and for my ambition as a footballer.

  "I am joining a team that is at the top level. There is not another level after Chelsea. "I am joining with big names like John Terry, Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka and I can be part of this great team.

  "Also, I wanted to join because Chelsea always have shown a big respect for me. "They really want me and it is important when you have the support of the people in the club. The fans always showed respect to me when I came to Stamford Bridge and at Anfield.

  "Now I am very happy to be a Chelsea player."

  Torres knows he is now despised on Merseyside but he insists the support of the Chelsea faithful is all that matters to him.

  He said: "When I played against Chelsea, there was always a big motivation because it was a special game — it was always one of the biggest games of the season.

  "I want to say thanks to the Chelsea fans because I have seen them very, very happy with me for joining. "If they are happy as well because I am not going to score any more against them then it is good.

  "Chelsea have the chance every season to win all the trophies they play for, so when you have the chance to play in a team like this, you cannot say no."

  Torres is also looking forward to linking up again with former Anfield team-mate Yossi Benayoun, who is close to returning from an Achilles injury.

  He said: "Benayoun is my friend and on the pitch we have a very good relationship. "Hopefully he can play as soon as possible and he will be fully recovered.

  "It is exciting the possibility to play with him again, but as well with my other new team-mates."

• sg_forum

  1 Feb 11, 22:05

  "support of the Chelsea faithful is all that matters to me" <-- Gosh! BTW, good luck...hope you win a trophy there at Chelsea!

• Medicated Oil

  2 Feb 11, 00:13

  I guess when you have 220 000 pounds as your salary per week will put lots of hot air between his head.

  It is just human nature to behave this way so that he want to show his loyalty to his new master.

  The way he expressed is hard core eager.

• KENNY DULLFOOL

  2 Feb 11, 08:21

  SOUR GRAPE LAH LIVERPOOL FANS..POO DAMN SUCKS!!! WHO WANT PLAY FOR THEM??

• ahtansh

  2 Feb 11, 10:02

  Liverpool will lose even with or without Torres.

  Stevie G can demonstrate another nasty tackle against his opponent, Torres breaking his ankle and end his season!

• Bus&Soccer l0v3r (VO3x 1)

  2 Feb 11, 10:17

  

   

   

  Hoping for a miracle

   

  Suarez use his hand of god to deny torres 1st goal in 90mins

   

  and get sent off

  Lampard blast the ball up

   

  omg

   

   

   

• sg_forum

  2 Feb 11, 10:23

  No, Torres will be taking the penalty and blast the ball up to the sky.

  People will start saying that Torres' heart is still with Liverpool, bla bla bla shit...

• Rock^Star

  2 Feb 11, 10:56

  With the haste that torres has ditched liverpool, i don't think he will remember them too fondly. He has spoken out over the years on the need for reinforcements. He knows he's a top striker but he has not won any trophy except the world cup for the last few years. Perhaps he's bitter with the quality of players that liverpool have had over the years. He will remember the kop with nostalgia of course but i guess it's bitter sweet. Probably more of the former.

• charlize

  2 Feb 11, 11:00

  Maybe we will witness a 4-4 thriller.

   

  8 players scoring.

• zocoss

  2 Feb 11, 13:16

  Torres set to make stunning Chelsea debut against former club Liverpool on Sunday

   

  

  Raring to go: Torres will make his Chelsea debut on Sunday at home to Liverpool

   

   

   

  Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti revealed last night he could launch Fernando Torres, Didier Drogba AND Nicolas Anelka on Liverpool this Sunday.

  After seeing his side hit four goals in a resounding victory at Sunderland, Ancelotti admitted he could change his tactics to suit his superstar trio.

  'I will probably play two strikers, maybe with a diamond,' he said, hinting at a front two of Torres and Drogba playing in front of with Anelka just behind. 'He (Torres) will have no problems playing with Drogba or another striker.'

  Torres will launch his Chelsea career against his old club despite last-ditch attempts by Anfield chiefs to force him out of the fixture.

  Liverpool tried to strike a gentleman's agreement with Chelsea so the Spaniard would miss the game, but Ancelotti confirmed: 'There is no agreement that he won't play against Liverpool.'

  Torres did not travel to the' Stadium of Light to see his new strike partners - particularly Anelka - perform brilliantly in the win that takes Chelsea within a point of third-placed Manchester City.

  Talks around his move delayed the £50million record transfer as the clock ticked towards Monday's 11pm deadline. Any agreement over Sunday's game would be illegal under Barclays Premier League rules and Chelsea resisted the pressure to find a loophole.

  It could have worked had Torres moved initially on loan, preventing him playing against his parent club. 'It is like the destiny,' said Torres.

  It's not perfect for me but we'll see what happens and I only have good words about Liverpool. They made me a top player and gave me the chance to play at the top level. Now history is different and I am playing for Chelsea.'
  

  

  Don't forget me: Nicolas Anelka starred in Chelsea's 4-2 win over Sunderland

   

   

  Torres spent yesterday on administrative tasks and acquainting himself with his new place of work, Chelsea's training ground in Surrey.

  He trained alone on one of the academy pitches with fitness coach Chris Jones for 45 minutes before making it clear the prospect of winning the Champions League had supplied the motivation for his shock transfer request. The Spanish striker also admitted he realised last summer he had to leave Anfield.

  'The Champions League is a big ambition and all the footballers want to play in it,' said Torres. 'I have a very bad memory of the semi-final of the Champions League in my first season in England when Chelsea beat us and they played the final. Hopefully now I'm here we can go through to the final together and win.

  'Chelsea have the chance every season to win all the trophies that they play for, so when you have the chance to play in a team like this you cannot say no. I felt from last summer that I needed a step forward in my career.

  'I am joining a team that is at the top level, there is not another level after Chelsea. I am joining with big names like Terry, Lampard, Drogba and Anelka and I can be part of this great team.

  'I wanted to join because Chelsea always have shown a big respect for me. They really want me and it is important when you have the support of the people in the club, and the support of the fans who always showed respect to me when I came to Stamford Bridge and at Anfield. Now I am very happy to be a Chelsea player.' ]

  Ancelotti will formally introduce Torres to his new team-mates today, when David Luiz is also expected to train after Roman Abramovich's personal intervention oiled his on-off transfer from Benfica, just four hours before Monday's deadline.

  Abramovich is understood to have made a call instructing the club to increase its offer for Luiz by £5m and match the asking price. The £75m outlay in a single day equals what the club's Russian owner has spent over the previous three years.

  Chelsea chief executive Ron Gourlay said: 'Carlo is over the moon. He did say we needed to bring in a couple of players and I said six months ago that, if we had to bring someone in, then it would be a big signing. We are in fantastic shape.'

   

   

• zocoss

  3 Feb 11, 09:52

  SKRTEL: TORRES COULD REGRET MOVE

  

  Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel does not think the team will miss striker Fernando Torres having brought in Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez to replace him.

  He even suggested the Spain international may regret his £50million move to Chelsea, which was completed on Monday just after £35million Carroll and £22.8million Suarez had been confirmed as the Reds' new recruits.

  "We have captured Suarez and Carroll. I believe these two will replace him and we will be at least as strong as we were with Nando," said the defender.

  "We all feel sorry because he's a player of world class ability but, to be honest, it was no surprise.

  "This season has not been going according to our wishes and expectations and that convinced him that it is the right time to move elsewhere. This is how he explained it to us.

  "I wish him all the best but do not wish any success to Chelsea.

  "Maybe Fernando will regret making this step sometime in the future."

  Torres' debut could come against his former club at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

  Skrtel is confident, however, he can keep the 26-year-old quiet.

  "It will be different because so far I have been playing against him only in training," the Slovakian told isport.blesk.cz.

  "I hope he appears on the pitch and, since Chelsea wanted him so much, it is very likely that he will.

  "I'm looking forward and firmly believe I won't let him score."

   

• Rock^Star

  3 Feb 11, 11:15

  skrtel talk cock. He gets turned by wingers so easily. And he has concentration issues.

• Rooney9

  3 Feb 11, 14:46

  why has glen johnson and reina not moved yet?

• CKeer

  3 Feb 11, 23:43

  Originally posted by Rooney9:

  why has glen johnson and reina not moved yet?

  Glen Johnson didn't move probably because Liverpool is paying him salary he would never get elsewhere. And no one else is willing to pay that much for this right "winger".

  Reina is a loyal servant since his days at Barcelona and Villareal. I think he will only move back to native Spain if the opportunity arises.

• KENNY DULLFOOL

  4 Feb 11, 00:03

  Originally posted by Rock^Star:

  ... need for reinforcements. He knows he's a top striker but he has not won any trophy except the world cup for the last few years. Perhaps he's bitter with the quality of players that liverpool have had over...

  
  PLUS THE EURO2008 TROPHY LAH U FUCKING NIGGA

• zocoss

  4 Feb 11, 10:12

  Chelsea's £25m deadline-day signing David Luiz set to miss Liverpool clash
  

   

  

  New recruit: John Terry welcomes Luiz at Chelsea's training ground

   

   

   

   

  David Luiz's hopes of a Chelsea debut against Liverpool on Sunday are fading after he was forced to make an 11,000-mile round trip to finalise his work permit.

  The Brazil defender jetted home on Wednesday to get his permit rubber-stamped ahead of his Barclays Premier League debut. Chelsea officials insist there are no problems and that the trip is standard procedure.

  The 23-year-old will be eligible to play Liverpool at Stamford Bridge, but whether Carlo Ancelotti will throw his £25million signing into the potentially explosive clash is unclear.

  Fernando Torres is set to make his Chelsea bow against the club he left in acrimonious circumstances on Monday, adding extra spice to the encounter.

  But Luiz is only expected back in the UK today, so he would go into this weekend's clash after just two days of full training.

   

  

  Getting shirty: the Blues spent £25m on bringing Luiz to the Bridge

  Ancelotti may prefer to play the centre half in the west London derby against Fulham on February 14. But the Brazilian says he is ready to face Liverpool if needed.

  'I hope I can play quickly, and I feel 100 per cent to play tomorrow if I need to,' he said. 'There is no problem with my fitness. I have a strong desire to get a space in this group and establish myself.'

  Luiz has first-hand experience of what Torres will bring to Stamford Bridge, as the Spaniard scored twice when Liverpool beat Benfica 5-3 on aggregate in last season's Europa League quarter-final.

  Luiz said: 'I am so happy that I can play in the same team as him and not against him.

• zocoss

  5 Feb 11, 12:32

   

   

  

   

   

  KOP king Kenny Dalglish reckons Fernando Torres will be no problem tomorrow - if his boys stay competitive.

  Dalglish said: "The football club is more important than any individual - whether Torres has been and gone.

  "I would expect they would relish the battle against him - but they have competed brilliantly against everyone since I have come in.

  "If our lads are competitive we won't have a problem."

• zocoss

  6 Feb 11, 10:47

  Squad sheets: Chelsea v Liverpool

   

  The fascination with Fernando Torres making his Chelsea debut against previous club tends to distract attention from the sheer difficulty of this fixture for Liverpool. They have won once at Stamford Bridge in all competitions since the spring of 2006. The caretaker manager Kenny Dalglish has made a good impression with victories in his last three games, but this match will be more revealing about the suitability of making his appointment permanent. A win for Liverpool would complete a league double for this season.

   

  Venue Stamford Bridge, Sunday 4pm

  Tickets Sold out

  Last season Chelsea 2 Liverpool 0

  Referee A Marriner

  This season's matches 17 Y61, R2, 3.71 cards per game

  Odds Chelsea 4-7 Liverpool 4-1 Draw 5-2

   

   

   

  Chelsea

  Subs from Turnbull, Hilário, Bruma, David Luiz, Ramires, Bertrand, Ferreira, McEachran, Kalou, Malouda

  Doubtful David Luiz (match fitness), Mikel (leg)

  Injured Alex (knee, 19 Feb), Zhirkov (calf, 19 Feb), Benayoun (achilles, Apr)

  Suspended None

  Form guide WWWLDW

  Disciplinary record Y35 R1

  Leading scorers Malouda, Drogba 9

   

   

  Liverpool

  Subs from Gulacsi, Hansen, Carragher, Aurélio, Poulsen, Kyrgiakos, Cole, Jones, Shelvey, Jovanovic, Pacheco, Wilson

  Doubtful Poulsen (back), Cole (knee)

  Injured Spearing (foot, Mar), Carroll (thigh, Mar)

  Suspended None

  Form guide WWWDLL

  Disciplinary record Y40 R2

  Leading scorers Gerrard, Kuyt 4

   

   

  Match pointers

  • Liverpool have not scored at Stamford Bridge for a total of nine hours and 57 minutes since Bruno Cheyrou's league goal in 2004

  • In the past seven league meetings between these sides all Liverpool's goals have been scored by current Chelsea players (five from Fernando Torres and an José Bosingwa own goal)

  • The last four league games between Chelsea and Liverpool have all ended 2-0

  • Liverpool have not won four league games in a row since September 2009, a run that ended with an away defeat at Stamford Bridge

  Probable starters in bold, contenders in light. Photograph: Graphic
• zocoss

  6 Feb 11, 10:56

  Chelsea's strikerforce is rather daunting from the looks of it...

  How many think Torres might score against his old club tonight?

  And Drogba always seems to do well against Pool too...

  Only soft spot I think is the defence... Ivanovic and Terry is not too convincing...

• Rock^Star

  6 Feb 11, 11:45

  hope torres gets shackled out clean :)

• zocoss

  6 Feb 11, 18:08

  First perference ... A Draw would be nice...

  2nd... A Chelsea win.

  3rd... Whatever... lol.

   

• zocoss

  6 Feb 11, 23:42

   

   

   

  Chelsea

  • 01 Cech
  • 02 Ivanovic
  • 03 A Cole
  • 17 Bosingwa
  • 26 Terry
  • 05 Essien
  • 08 Lampard
  • 12 Mikel
  • 09 Torres
  • 11 Drogba
  • 39 Anelka

  Substitutes

  • 22 Turnbull,
  • 04 David Luiz,
  • 19 Ferreira,
  • 15 Malouda,
  • 46 McEachran,
  • 55 Sala,
  • 21 Kalou

   

  Liverpool

  • 25 Reina
  • 02 G Johnson
  • 05 Agger
  • 23 Carragher
  • 34 Kelly
  • 37 Skrtel
  • 04 Meireles
  • 08 Gerrard
  • 17 Maxi
  • 21 Lucas
  • 18 Kuyt

  Substitutes

  • 42 Gulacsi,
  • 06 Aurelio,
  • 16 Kyrgiakos,
  • 28 Poulsen,
  • 07 Suarez,
  • 14 Jovanovic,
  • 24 Ngog

  Ref: Marriner

• R3SsH|n

  6 Feb 11, 23:46

  liverpool play 5-3-1?

• tripsky

  6 Feb 11, 23:46

  5 defenders to deal with 3 strikers... should be bloody entertaining ~

• zocoss

  6 Feb 11, 23:48

  Liverpool are going for a super defensive formation with 5 defenders, 3 centre-backs in Agger, Carragher and Skrtel...  4 in midfield and Kuyt as lone striker...

  I can't remember when was the last time I seen a club played 5 defenders with 3 centre-backs... I guess extra marking for Torres... lol.