A few weeks ago I looked at the creative impact of Fernando Torres and Wayne Rooney over the last two complete seasons. Torres was streets ahead of Rooney in almost every way, but some people (i.e. Man U fans in denial) argued that it was an unfair comparison as they played in different positions. Well, since Torres and Rooney are both now playing the striker role, I've taken a look at the last 10 games to gauge how things are going this season. Click to continue reading...

Rafa Benitez has admitted that Fernando Torres is carrying a hernia injury. Given the consequences of aggravating that injury, should Torres be rested against Lyon to avoid a longer-term problem...or should Rafa take a risk and play him anyway?
Yesterday, Benitez had this to say about Torres' injury:
"We know Fernando has a [hernia] problem, and we have to manage it. Click to continue reading...

Debreceni vs Fiorentina

A win against Debreceni would bring the Viola to the brink of the knockout stages of the Champions League.

Fiorentina are hoping to have Mutu and Jovetic for the match. Mutu is trying to recover from a knee injury while Jovetic is suffering from a problematic toe.

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There we were.
My lover and I.
In our matching navy blue overalls, standing in our shed surrounded by piles of wood, some cut some not, and a small portable radio.
We listened as Liverpool and the ManUre lined up to face each other.
We looked at each other across the workbench. Click to continue reading...

It's been over 20 years since Liverpool last lost four games in a row and it is time for some changes at Anfield. Rafa Benitez has enjoyed a big support from the fans even though he did little to deserve it but it is more than clear he has taken this team as far as he could. He's had his ups and downs at Liverpool but for the team that should be fighting for honours to lose four games in a row is simply inexcusable.

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Liverpool nation's hopes may ride on the back of Gerrard and Torres

Debrecen vs. Fiorentina

The Viola has to like their chances as Tuesday's game approaches. They have taken points from Liverpool and Juventus in recent matches and they face a team who haven't scored in their own two games in the Champions League this year.

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With Gerrard and Torres out of today's game against Sunderland, Liverpool fans are waiting with bated-breath to see what team will be sent out by Rafa Benitez. As a comparison, Liverpool have been without their two star players five times in the past. How did the teams line-up in those games?
TOULOUSE: August 2007 (4-0 win)
-------------- Reina
Arbeloa -- Agger -- Hyypia -- Riise
Benayoun -- Sissoko -- Masch -- Leto
----------- Crouch -- Kuyt
CHELSEA: December 2007 (2-0 defeat)
-------------- Reina
Arbeloa -- Carra -- Hobbs -- Aurelio
--------- Alonso -- Sissoko
Voronin ------ Lucas ------- Babel
------------- Crouch
LUTON: Jan 2008 (1-1)
-------------- Reina
Finnan -- Carra -- Hyypia -- Riise
---------- Alonso --- Lucas
Kuyt ------ Benayoun ------ Babel
------------ Crouch
FULHAM: April 2008 (2-0 win)
-------------- Reina
Finnan -- Skrtel -- Hyypia -- Riise
Benayoun -- Masch -- Lucas -- Pennant
---------- Crouch -- Voronin
MANCHESTER UNITED: September 2008 (2-1 win)
-------------- Reina
Arbeloa -- Carra -- Skrtel -- Aurelio
---------- Alonso -- Masch
Kuyt ---------- Benayoun ------- Riera
---------------- Keane
The Chelsea defeat aside, Benitez hasn't gone particularly defensive when Gerrard and Torres have both been missing. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool will be without Gerrard and Torres due to injuries.

With the end of the International play it is time to look at injuries sustained by players during international duty. With a Champions League round next week injuries could be crucial for some sides.

Managers hate sending their players to play for their country and rightfully so.

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There has been a lot of discussion recently over the individual merits of Fernando Torres and Wayne Rooney. Both have had great starts to the new season, and both are vitally important to their respective clubs...but who is the better player? It's a tough question to answer objectively, but the following in-depth, objective analysis shows quite clearly that Torres is the more consistently effective performer. Click to continue reading...

...Henrik Larsson or Gabriel Batitstuta. This is the view of former Scotland manager Craig Brown, who believes that Torres still has some way to go before matching those two players. What do you think?
In a recent interview with The Independent, Brown was asked whether Torres was the best striker in the world right now. Click to continue reading...

Steven Gerrard and/or Fernando Torres may not be fit for this weekend's game against Sunderland. Panic stations, right? Wrong. Whilst the media love to spin the myth that Liverpool is a 'two-man team' history proves otherwise, and in my view, Liverpool fans have nothing to worry about.
LIVERPOOL WITHOUT GERRARD
Liverpool do just fine without Gerrard in the side, and history proves this beyond a shadow of a doubt. Click to continue reading...

Aaaaand Raul Albiol appears to be impressed with Nando's penchant for descriptive storytelling! A proud papá moment, indeed and you know rapaz asked everyone (including Raver Ramos) to be Nora's godfather.

Anyway, la seleccion have lost David Villa to injury and Madrid's youngster Alvaro Negredo has been called up to replace him.

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It's getting difficult to find new ways to praise Fernando Torres. See here and here, among other sycophancy. The goals per game, the hat-tricks, the fact he can score any kind of goal, that he's only 25; I can go on and on. But there's little else to be written on how potent he is. So I got to thinking about the "supporting cast. Click to continue reading...

Another three points and things look a lot brighter. Overall we controlled the game well and looked like we could create chances at will. The chance to really go to town and play some creative stuff was ruined by some defensive mistakes that once again put us under unnecessary pressure. Carra can't be a big fan [. Click to continue reading...

(video gol, 0-1. Torres)
(video gol, 1-1. Diamanti)
(video gol, 1-2. Gerrard)
(video gol, 2-2. Cole)
(video gol, 2-3. Torres)
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Fernando Torres has scored three goals in four games this season. Great return so far, so what more do we want from the kid? Frankly, a lot more. Liverpool's outstanding striker is certainly capable of scoring more goals, but is he being handicapped by Liverpool's preferred formation?
During the 2007/08 season, Torres scored thirty three goals in 46 appearances, which is quite the prodigious strike rate; even the great Ian Rush only managed 30 in 49 appearances in his first full season at Anfield. Click to continue reading...

Fernando Torres has jumped aboard the 'Liverpool can't compete because of money' bandwagon. Displaying a defeatist attitude in public is bad enough, but blaming the team's lack of trophies on lack of money is worse because, in my view, it just isn't true.
In an interview, Torres said:
"I think we are close to getting a trophy but it's very difficult. Click to continue reading...

Today is the day that I have decided to finally get something off my chest that has been bugging me for over a season now. I do not doubt that it will seem somewhat controversial to many of you, but let me tell you now before anyone has the audacity to disagree, I am right. It goes like this: Behind the obvious talisman of Steven Gerrard and of course ‘Nando' Torres, Dirk Kuyt is the next best Liverpool player.

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Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres will be absolutely vital to Liverpool's FC's hopes of winning the Premiership this season. We all know how well the two players work together, but just how effective is the Gerrard/Torres partnership?
I have analysed every LEAGUE game Gerrard and Torres have started together since the Spaniard joined the club in 2007. Click to continue reading...

Exclusive HQ Fernando Torres wallpapers, search to see more Liverpool wallpapers!

1024×768, 1280×1024 & 1600×1200 resolution versions available for ALL wallpapers!

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White Hart Lane was one of two places where we lost last season- the other was the Riverside. Going by our pre-season form, I had doubts over whether we could take all three points in our opening fixture, like Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United had done.

It was a very, very disappointing performance from Liverpool.

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Gallery, images, photos and pictures of Liverpool's match v Atletico Madrid Pre-Season Friendly match, August 2009. Includes Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres, Glen Johnson, Javier Mascherano, Yossi Benayoun, Ryan Babel, Andriy Voronin, Jay Spearing and Martin Kelly images, photos and pictures.

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Gallery, images, photos and pictures of Liverpool's match v Atletico Madrid Pre-Season Friendly match, August 2009. Includes Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres, Glen Johnson, Javier Mascherano, Yossi Benayoun, Ryan Babel, Andriy Voronin, Jay Spearing and Martin Kelly images, photos and pictures. Click to continue reading...

Gallery, images, photos and pictures of Liverpool's match v Atletico Madrid Pre-Season Friendly match, August 2009. Includes Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres, Glen Johnson, Javier Mascherano, Yossi Benayoun, Ryan Babel, Andriy Voronin, Jay Spearing and Martin Kelly images, photos and pictures.

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Gallery, images, photos and pictures of Liverpool's match v Atletico Madrid Pre-Season Friendly match, August 2009. Includes Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres, Glen Johnson, Javier Mascherano, Yossi Benayoun, Ryan Babel, Andriy Voronin, Jay Spearing and Martin Kelly images, photos and pictures.

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Gallery, images, photos and pictures of Liverpool's match v Atletico Madrid Pre-Season Friendly match, August 2009. Includes Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres, Glen Johnson, Javier Mascherano, Yossi Benayoun, Ryan Babel, Andriy Voronin, Jay Spearing and Martin Kelly images, photos and pictures.

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Last month we ran a poll asking you to pick your favourite three matches of the Rafa Benitez era. In 2nd place was Manchester United v Liverpool played at Old Trafford� on 14th March 2009. Having thumped Real Madrid in the week proceeding spirits were high but having not managed a single win at Old Trafford under [. Click to continue reading...

Gallery, images, photos and pictures of Fernando Torres in Liverpool's pre-season friendly match against FC Lyn Oslo. Click to continue reading...

Last week we ran a poll asking you to pick your favourite three matches of the Rafa Benitez era. In 3rd place was Liverpool v Real Madrid played at Anfield on 10th March 2009. In the 1st leg a goal from Yossi Benayoun gave Liverpool an impressive if not commanding lead going into the second leg. In [. Click to continue reading...

Futbolita and Fernando Torres / Photo © Gavin Foo

Following up on our previous adventure with the Foreignchester United squad, here's a little bit on our Liverpool experience which took place a few days later... as promised. Lo siento para la retraso.

Firstly, we met our friend Lucas Leiva (who loved our newspaper article on him and sent us a text message about it!

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In the light of our probable mini Spanish exodus I thought a little examination of our Spanish influence wouldn't go a miss. What have they brought us? When Rafa joined us in 2004 his understanding of the English game was obviously not what it is now and if he did know any English players apart from the [. Click to continue reading...

Dirk Kuyt signed for Liverpool in August of 2006. Thinking back I remember a mixture of excitement at the news of a prolific goal scorer signing in and disappointment that we hadn't secured one of the 'big' names we were linked with that summer. His debut as a substitute against West Ham revealed a hard worker [. Click to continue reading...

It was a comfortable 5-0 victory for Liverpool over Singapore. The talking point will undoubtedly be Xabi Alonso's second half appearance as a substitute, his first preseason appearance for Liverpool. Did the non soccer factors swayed him from a £30 million move to Real Madrid? (The Singapore fans)Andriy Voronin, Albert Riera and Fernando Torres all scored once, and reserve striker Krisztian Click to continue reading...

This is the first of what should be a recurring feature. And I'm a little disappointed that I didn't think of it earlier, especially since I've become more and more of a stats whore over the past year.
Okay, I'll back up. Regular readers know I was in grad school over the past year. I got my masters' in journalism (anyone hiring? Click to continue reading...

Rafa Benitez put a stop to Real Madrid's incredible spending spree - by rejecting a massive £65million bid for Anfield idol Fernando Torres. Madrid swooped for Torres AFTER sealing deals for £80m Cristiano Ronaldo and £56m Kaka. It was an astonishing move from the Spaniards, given that Torres made his name at their bitter rivals Atletico [. Click to continue reading...