Was Torres’ Chelsea move a blessing in disguise for Liverpool?

When total idolisation for a footballer is shredded by the ever-increasing flippancy of a broken contract, the supporters suffer most, or so they believe – they feel betrayed by an individual they have never met. A boy born Fernando José Torres Sanz heard a calling from pastures new and Liverpool Football Club reluctantly let him leave – but in a bitter-sweet twist, the Spaniard’s exit now pushes Liverpool towards an exciting future.

Many of those true to the red-cause felt the same sick feeling as the author of this piece on the Friday preceding manic Monday with news of his transfer request – whether the demand was turned down or not, is of no consequence. The wheels on his Chelsea-bound wagon were in motion and when a player wants out that badly, why bother finding methods of obstruction.

The Spaniard hadn’t looked happy in red for quite some time and the demise of Rafael Benitez, to some degree, went hand-in-hand with Torres’ path to degeneration. This is not to say he crumbled completely as a player, on the contrary, he was still the one man who genuinely won games with flashes of brilliance – ironically, his double against Chelsea in early November was the last legitimate case in point – but on his departure he was not the same electrifying Torres who signed for Liverpool four years ago and at times he looked a man who had fallen out of love with football.

The team’s over achievement probably kept him at Anfield longer than his destiny would have liked. Liverpool’s runner’s-up season, 2008-09, fed him genuine scraps of faith which indicated his club were mere tweaks, rather than wholesale changes, away from a first Premier league crown and indeed his first club honours. But the following season regression ultimately conquered progression as Benitez’ assembly fell out of the top four, the well-documented ownership tribulations were in full-swing and their No 09 from that point on, if not earlier, begun to wonder if the grass was actually greener.

Much has already been written, spoke, tweeted… (you name it), concerning the frivolous shenanigans on deadline day when the Blues and the Reds spent and exchanged, in-excess of £100m, but as difficult as it is to let one of world’s best striker’s leave, his exit maybe inadvertently has renewed Liverpool’s artistic license.

Throughout Torres’ Merseyside career he and his talismanic captain were far too pivotal and if either was absent, then the team’s balance, drive and functionality was off-kilter. Forward cover was thin on the ground, David N’Gog – despite constant criticism – is still young and offers promise, but cannot lead the line as El Niño did. But the signings of Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez have now opened up a whole new world of opportunity for Kenny Dalglish. The latter showed against Stoke he is willing to adapt the teams approach to combat a certain style of opposition – utilising your squad is a must in modern football and seemingly something the Scot is happy to do and this will play to the Uruguayans skill set.

Evidence from Suarez’ short, but emphatic debut – and also a point re-iterated by a member of Ajax’s coaching team – is that El pistolero offers great versatility. He can play just off a striker, in either wide role or even as the lone man, which makes him in essence your perfect forward. His movement was bright against Stoke; he played left of the centrally located Dirk Kuyt and constantly made runs that confused their defensive organisation. Torres’ killer ploy is to thrive on the last defender’s shoulder, but the Uruguayan’s flexibility gives Liverpool just that, plus alternatives.

Not to forget Andy Carroll who is seen as Torres direct replacement, big boots, sure. The big Geordie, many assume, will dictate the style Dalglish adopts but watching the 22-year-old this season it appears he is much more than a brute-force to turn to when desperation comes knocking. He has, and excuse the cliché, great feet for such a big man and looks comfortable on the ball, he can offer yet another dynamic.

Dirk Kuyt also proved he can play a central role against Stoke and Chelsea, many people also forget this was the very platform from which his Feyenoord career took flight – 71 goals in 101 Eredivisie league appearances – were as a main striker. He may not possess the same prowess as the now departed Torres, but his willingness to run is peerless and his general link-up play in the past two games was a tutorial for all attentive young strikers leading the line.

This is not to say Liverpool wouldn’t have held on to the latter if given the choice – drop of a hat comes to mind – but the reliance on him had turned too great and his side became one dimensional and therefore too conventional. In that sense, both parties should ultimately thank Roman Abramovich’s millions. It must be made clear that Liverpool will miss Torres, of course they will, and it would be erroneous to suggest otherwise and it was strange to see him at Cobham training in white, and that feeling will only be exacerbated as he continually struts around Stamford Bridge in Chelsea blue.

But if Liverpool fans can struggle past the initial discomfort, a bigger picture will lay in wait – the Spaniard’s exit could just be an blessing in disguise as Liverpool Football Club needed to evolve.