Fernando Torres signed for Liverpool in the summer of 2007 breaking the clubs record transfer fee. In his first season he scored an astonishing 24 Premier League goals, 33 in all competitions. The former captain of Atletico Madrid has adapted to his new surroundings and has become one of the most explosive strikers in world football. Fernando Torres helped Spain to win the European Championship scoring the winner in the final against Germany.
1st June 2010 - Fitness, Rumours + Liverpool Goals 2009/10 Fernando Torres has been back in training with Spain at the Austrian base camp before flying out to South Africa. The reds number 9 hasn't been doing double training sessions with his team mates as Vicente Del Bosque didn't want to push him too hard after recovering from knee surgery. Fernando is confident he will be fit for Spain's opening group.
The summer rumour mill is in full swing with Torres being linked with a host of Europe's top clubs after Liverpool's poor season. Here are some of the names being mentioned in no particular order: Man City, Chelsea, Barcelona, Inter Milan and Juventus.
Despite the 2009/10 being an injury hit season for Fernando there was still some highlights. Torres racked up an impressive 18 goals in 22 appearances in the Premier League, 22 goals in 32 appearances in all competitions. Here are some the highlights:
15th May 2010 - Torres racing to be fit for World Cup opener There are still doubts over Fernando's chance of making Spain's opening World Cup match on 16th June. The Liverpool number nine is currently recovering from his second knee operation in 3 months.
Liverpool's head of Sports Medicine and Science, Peter Brukner, had this to say "He's doing well and he's certainly tremendously committed to his rehab, as are the staff here, and if anyone can recover from an injury, he can.
"You can't be absolutely certain of anything but at this stage, if he continues to progress the way he is, he should be fit to play at some stage during the World Cup.
"Whether he'll be fit for the first game or not is uncertain."
5th May 2010 - Torres racing to be fit for World Cup opener
There are still doubts over Fernando's chance of making Spain's opening World Cup match on 16th June. The Liverpool number nine is currently recovering from his second knee operation in 3 months.
Liverpool's head of Sports Medicine and Science, Peter Brukner, had this to say "He's doing well and he's certainly tremendously committed to his rehab, as are the staff here, and if anyone can recover from an injury, he can.
"You can't be absolutely certain of anything but at this stage, if he continues to progress the way he is, he should be fit to play at some stage during the World Cup.
"Whether he'll be fit for the first game or not is uncertain."
12th April 2010 - Liverpool 0-0 Fulham
Liverpool look like they have kissed the chance to play Champions League football goodbye after another disappointing draw. A minutes silence was observed before the match to commemorate the 96 Liverpool fans that lost there lives at Hillsborough 21 years ago. The reds failed to put pressure on those above them in the league and now face a fight to be in Europe at all next season. Finishing 5th in the Premier League or winning the Europa League are the only routes available. Fernando Torres didn't even make the bench due to another problem with his knee. Torres is due to see a specialist on Monday to find out the extent of the problem.
8th April 2010 - Liverpool 4-1 Benfica
Fernando Torres scored twice as Liverpool produced yet again another fine European performance at Anfield. The reds took the lead through Dirk Kuyt amidst confusion over whether the goal should have stood. The linesman flagged for offside but as the ball came from a corner and there was no flick on from a Liverpool player the goal stood. The home side went in search of another as Gerrard slipped a through ball between Benfica's defence and Lucas calmly rounded the keeper to tuck the ball home. Torres got number three after a fast counter attack from back to front on 58 minutes. Benfica got one back leaving Liverpool fans to ponder what had happened to Man Utd the night before against Bayern Munich. But Fernando Torres wrapped up a great night with his second ensuring the reds passage into the semi finals against Fernando's old employers.
4th April 2010 - Birmingham City 1-1 Liverpool
Liverpool's battle for fourth place took a knock back as they were held at St Andrews. The Reds have still failed to win away from homein the league in 2010 and now trail Man City by 5 points who still have a game in hand. Steven Gerrard gave Liverpool the lead after his initial corner found it's way back to him before cutting inside and finishing in the far corner. Liam Ridgewell equalised for City less then 10 minutes later when he found himself in acres of space to tuck home.
28th March 2010 - Liverpool 3-0 Sunderland
Fernando Torres scored 2 goals as Liverpool closed Tottenham's lead on fourth place to four points having played a game more. Watching this match would have left Liverpool fans wondering why they haven't been playing like this all season. Fast interchanging movement with an end product is the kind of football that pushed Man United all the way last season.
Torres opened the scoring after 3 minutes with a spectacular strike looping over the top of Craig Gordon into the top right hand corner. Glen Johnson doubled the lead with a left footed strike from outside the area on 32 minutes. In the second half Johnson played the ball into Torres before nando lifted the ball over the in coming player to make it 3-0. Liverpool have to win there remaining games to give themselves the chance of Champions League football next season.
22nd February 2010 - Torres Back In Squad
Fernando Torres finally returned from injury for the trip to Eastland's. Torres came off the bench after 75 minutes against Manchester City, a team who are rumoured to be making a £140 million joint bid for El Nino and Gerrard in the summer. The number nine was unable to break the deadlock but seeing him back on the pitch will be a welcome sight for Liverpool fans.
18th January 2010 - Torres out for 6 weeks
Fernando Torres will be out for around 6 weeks after undergoing successful surgery on a niggling knee problem. The striker has battled with fitness all season and underfire manager Rafa Benitez hopes this will end the problem. This will mean Torres is back around March to help the battle for fourth place and should be fit for the summers World Cup with Spain.
29th November 09 - Everton 0-2 Liverpool
Torres missed the Merseyside Derby at Goodison Park today but is likely to make the squad for the trip to Blackburn next Saturday. Liverpool won the match with an own goal from Joesph Yobo who deflected Javier Mascherano's strike into the back of the net. Dirk Kuyt wrapped up the victory after some abysmal defending from the Toffees.
29th November 09 - City lining up £50m bid for Torres
British Newspapers are reporting that Man City could be ready to test the Anfield owners resolve and make a formal offer for the Liverpool number nine. A bid in the region of £50 million has been mentioned as the reds owners continue the battle of refinancing the clubs debts. Rafa has already stated that he will quit the club if the striker is sold against his wishes.
23rd November 09 - Torres misses Hungary trip
Fernando Torres stayed behind on Merseyside to receive treatment on his troubled groin injury. The reds number 9 will miss the must win game against Debrecen on Tuesday in the hope that he will be fit for the Everton match next Sunday.
Rafa Benitez speaking on the clubs official website went on to say "We thought it would be two or three weeks and he's only 12 or 13 days into that so there's no point in him going.
"The next few days will decide if he is fit for Everton (on Sunday), but at this moment there are no guarantees."
18th November 09 - Benitez - If Torres goes, I go
Rafa Benitez fired a warning shot to Liverpool's owners yesterday stating that if Torres was sold he would resign as manager. Tom Hicks and George Gillett have come under pressure from fans for the amount of debt they have run up during there time at the club. And Rafa has now made it perfectly clear he won't allow his best players to leave to pay down the American owners debts.
Fernando Torres will miss the clash with Man City on Saturday with a recurring groin strain. His back on the mend and should be fit for the Merseyside derby against the blueshite at the end of the month.
12th November 09 - Liverpool need a fit Torres
I've been patchy with the updates recently but i'm back with regular news! Fernando Torres is likely to be out for the next 2/3 weeks according to Rafa Benitez and he should be back running
in the next few days. It has been a terrible time for the Reds of late winning just one game in there last nine matches in all competitions. Liverpool have suffered a whole catalogue of injuries not least to Torres and Gerrard.
The highlight since the last update was the 2-0 victory over the Mancs at Anfield with a stunning strike from Torres. Regular updates are back!
17th October 09 - Torres injury update + Player of the month award
Fernando Torres misses todays game with Sunderland after picking up a groin strain while training with Spain in midweek. Rafa Benitez is hopeful that the striker will be fit for the Champions League clash with Lyon and the important Premier League game with bitter rivals Manchester United next Sunday.
Torres was named the Barclays Premier League player of the month for September on the back of a hat trick in the 6-1 thrashing at home to Hull City and a double at Upton Park giving the reds 3-2 victory.
10th May 09 - West Ham 0-3 Liverpool Liverpool went back to the top of the table on goal difference although Man Utd still have two games in hand. Steven Gerrard opened the scoring after just 78 seconds as Torres sliced open the Hammers defense and Stevie rounded the keeper to slot the ball home.
Fernando Torres then won his team a penalty as he was pulled down by Boa Morte in the box. Steven Gerrard had his initial penalty saved but scored from the rebound to make it 2-0. Ryan Babel came off the bench to wrap up the victory.
9th April 09 - Liverpool 1-3 Chelsea Fernando Torres scored after just 6 minutes to put Liverpool 1-0 up in this Champions League quarter final first leg tie. That was all Liverpool had to cheer about as Chelsea dominated this encounter. If Didier Drogba had his scoring boots on in the first half the score line would have been even more emphatic. Ivanovic scored two headers from set pieces when he was left completely unmarked on both occasions. Didier Drogba rounded up the victory after a good passing move by Chelsea found him in the box. It's hard to see Liverpool recovering from this.
