Liverpool haven’t been able to boast too many World Cup winning players throughout their history.
In fact, only 10 players to have won the biggest trophy in the sport have ever pulled on the famous Reds shirt. Of those ten, just three were representing Liverpool at the time they became world champions.
And even with that successful trio, one of them didn’t even get onto the pitch during the final.
One who did was legendary Spain striker Fernando Torres. And with the 40-year-old heading back to play at Anfield tomorrow, he has been in the news plenty this week.
Gerard Pique praises Fernando Torres
Torres was one of the finest strikers of his generation. Having been a big part of perhaps the greatest international side in history, he left a huge mark on the game.
The Spaniard also left a his stamp on Liverpool, it’s fair to say. Although it didn’t end well for him at Anfield – and he never won a trophy with the Reds – he inspired a generation of Liverpool supporters.
Upon his exit to Chelsea in 2011, Torres was never quite the same, either at club or national team level. And speaking to TalkSPORT about his old teammate this week, former Spain defender Gerard Pique has claimed that Torres was never better than when he was at Liverpool.
“Fernando Torres was another guy who was, I think he was the guy who had the least style as a Spanish player,” Pique explained.
“When we were in the national team all of them is like short passes, nobody loses the ball, Fernando was very different. He had a lot of pace, very strong, scored a lot of goals. And we needed him a lot.
“In 2008 he scored the goal against Germany in the final and in 2012 against Italy. I think in Liverpool was when he really became a top, top goalscorer in the Premier League.”
What’s Fernando Torres doing now
Ahead of his appearance at Anfield tomorrow, Torres has been making some appearances in the press this week.
Having stayed out of the spotlight a little since retiring in 2019, he has spoken effusively about Mohamed Salah and also hailed Liverpool’s youth team prospects.
Interestingly, Torres has also outlined his aspirations to become a manager. Having been in charge of Atletico Madrid’s U19s since 2021, the former Reds No.9 is building his experience.
Listening him speak about how he’s been inspired by both Jurgen Klopp and Pep Lijnders, Torres may be a young coach to watch out for.
In the more immediate future, Liverpool fans will perhaps have mixed feelings about his return to Anfield tomorrow. Some have not forgiven the way El Nino pushed through a move to Chelsea on January deadline day in 2011.
However, maybe they can take solace from the fact that Pique is absolutely right. It was at Liverpool where Torres shone the brightest.