Think Torres was the best striker in Europe at one point. Different type of player to Bobby so hard to compare but there's no question who will be held in higher esteem in the years to come. Bobby is a bona fide good guy and a legend as well as being instrumental in our success. Torres chose the glamour of Chelsea and the money of course and never came anywhere near his best levels for LFC and Spain after his injury.
I know there's a been a level of forgiveness and sympathy afforded to Torres by Liverpool fans that hasn't been given to others. That's fine - it's churlish to hold grudges (especially for Owen who almost actually single handedly won trophies for this club) but I can't shake the feeling that Torres was overrated.
I didn't buy his story from a couple of years back which made it sound like the club messed him around, insinuating that he was forced to hand in a transfer request. That goes contrary to everything he said at the time (Chelsea a 'big step up') and the fact that he re-iterated how many times that he needed to move on because he couldn't wait for a rebuild job at Liverpool (which is true to an extent).
There's an elite level of Liverpool striker over the last 20/25 years. I'd include Owen, Suarez, Bobby, Mane and Salah...Torres on the fringes of that. The latter 3 can rightly claim legend status. Owen - I know plenty would debate but I would argue he deserves that status on account of what he contributed and how he spearheaded our glut of trophies under Houllier.
Suarez - the best player of them all. Probably the most gifted to have ever played in a red shirt. But he won a solitary league cup. Put us in very compromising situations countless times and then scarpered. Absolutely no legendary status for him. Oddly it was his antics in the Semi Final 4 years ago that demolished his reputation more than anything however right or wrong that may be. Anyway... 4-0 Luis. 4-0. That's my enduring image of you at Anfield.
« Last Edit: May 12, 2023 03:13:30 pm by Frankly, Mr Shankly »
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