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LONDON.
Fernando Torres has admitted former club Liverpool put one over Chelsea as the Spain striker went goalless on debut for the English soccer champions in a 1-0 defeat by the Reds.
Sunday’s match at Stamford Bridge was the Spain striker’s first since he moved from Liverpool to Chelsea for 50 million pounds just days earlier in one of the final acts of the January transfer window.
But, having said he’d switched to bolster his chances of gaining top honours, Torres had to endure the embarrassment of being substituted after 66 minutes, shortly before Raul Meirelese scored Liverpool’s winner.
Defeat left Chelsea a huge 10 points behind leaders Manchester United and all but out of the Premier League title race.
Liverpool, for whom Sunday’s result was a fourth straight win without conceding under caretaker manager Kenny Dalglish, deployed three central defenders to negate the impact of Torres, Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka.
“It was very difficult, Liverpool played a good game, with three at the back,” Torres told Chelsea TV.
“We were not expecting that and maybe they took advantage of that.
“I think the fair result was the draw, it was unfair to lose that game, but now we are looking forward to the next game and will keep fighting until the end,” he added.
“There are a lot of points still to play (for).”
Liverpool fans could not resist mocking their former hero and when he was substituted some chanted: “You should have stayed at a big club.”
Torres meanwhile, insisted he’d been happy with his reception from the Chelsea crowd.
“Obviously everyone wants to win, especially if it is their first game at home, but I will still have very good memories about my reception here and want to thank all of the Chelsea fans for that nice reception,” he said.
“The result was not the best, but we have to keep going and fighting until the end.”
Meanwhile, Dalglish refused to revel in revenge over Torres as Liverpool spoiled the Chelsea striker’s debut with a 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge.
Torres ignored Dalglish’s pleas to remain at Anfield as he handed in a transfer request in a successful attempt to force through a British record 50 million pound transfer last week.
The Spaniard believes Liverpool are a club in transition and he jumped at the chance to join Chelsea because he sees the Blues as serious contenders for silverware.
As a Anfield legend who has won every major trophy during his time as a player and manager on Merseyside, Dalglish was inevitably frustrated to see Torres lose faith with Liverpool.
The Reds boss could easily have gloried in the way his tactical gameplan frustrated Torres, leading to the striker’s 66th-minute substitution following a lacklustre display on Sunday.
But instead Dalglish insisted his team were just focused on continuing their recent resurgence rather than stopping Torres.
“The players approached it professionally. I don’t think it was any incentive, whatever someone else wants to do with their life is entirely their choice,” Dalglish said.
“I came here to get three points, whether Carlo Ancelotti was playing up front or anyone else doesn’t matter.
“He (Torres) had one shot on target when Jamie Carragher did a fantastic block tackle but I’m not here to talk any somebody else’s players.
“I’ve always said the most important people to me are the people at Liverpool Football Club. We’ve got four clean-sheets in a row and 12 points, so I think anyone who is a Liverpool fan is very happy at the moment.”
Just 10 days ago, Liverpool’s future looked gloomy as Torres agitated for a move before the transfer deadline. But suddenly things are looking up for Dalglish and company.
Wins over Stoke and Chelsea have lifted Liverpool to within six points of the top four and new signings Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll, drafted in to replace Torres, have yet to start for the Reds.
Dalglish is confident Liverpool fans, who taunted Torres mercilessly throughout the match, have every reason to be optimistic after 18 months of turmoil at Anfield.
“We had a busy day and it has been a great week. The players were fantastic in their determination to win this match,” Dalglish said.
“We have signed two fantastic players in Suarez and Carroll and we are looking forward to seeing them play if they can get in the team!
“Sixth is a lot healthier than 12th when I started. That is a great credit to the players.”
Liverpool’s recent upsurge in fortunes has done Dalglish’s chances of turning his short-term job into a more permanent one but the Scot was quick to play down such talk.
“I’m only doing what I said I would come in and do, which is help,” he said.
“I’ll never stand in the way of progress at this football club.
“I have never had a conversation with the owners beyond the conversation I had when I came in.
“That’s where we stand at the moment and until there is more to discuss — that is where we are.” — AFP.