22 Mar 2018 08:52:52
Okay lads, now hear me out on this one because at some point you will probably think I'm an idiot even if you're one of the few who don't always think that!

Sturridge, Origi and Ings could all move on this summer. Solanke may well need a good loan spell too. So it goes without saying that in this scenario, we would need a new back up striker. Perhaps only somebody on a short term contract though. Otherwise, there would be no route back into the squad for young Solanke after his loan. It is pretty reasonable to suggest that we really need to be looking for a striker who is in their 30's but who can still score goals at the highest level, who wouldn't cost a fortune, and also wouldn't mind being an impact sub or just the cup striker to rest Firmino for league and CO duties.

Now there is a striker who turned 34 a couple of days ago. This striker has been scoring goals in a top European league and in European Cup competition for the last 2 seasons (as a back up striker), at a rate of around a goal every 180 minutes. In total, they have 17 goals and 9 assists since the start of last season in roughly 3000 minutes of football. This forward also spent half of his senior career in the Premier League and is out of contract this summer. In recent years this player has had to change his game due to age, and has become a very unselfish player who works very hard for the team.

This player is none other than Fernando Torres. (there is that moment I was on about! You know? The one where I predicted you'd think I'm an idiot! ) Now personally, I'd rather try and convince Ings to be Firmino's cover but if Ings wants to leave to try and rebuild his career, then we shouldn't stand in his way. In Torres, there is a cost effective option who knows the City, knows the league, scores goals at the highest level, presses hard from the front (Simeone doesn't let anybody off of defensive duties! ) and would probably take a 1 or 2 year contract at Liverpool, a club he loves.

Before anybody just totally rubbishes the idea, I would like to point out that Robbie Fowler and Craig Bellamy both did exactly the same thing (returned as cover in their 30's), and both times it was a relative success. Now i'm going to go and fetch my riot shield, whilst you guys take a moment to gather your thoughts!

1.) 22 Mar 2018
22 Mar 2018 09:00:41
Lol I was wondering who you was talking about and then I saw 'Torres' my eyes almost popped out of my head but it's a good shout. I think it's a good idea I really do I mean Ings comes first if we can keep hold of him then I'll be delighted but I would completely understand if he wanted to move on, he's still young enough and can have a bright future elsewhere so Torres is a good shout, I'd have him here tomorrow.

2.) 22 Mar 2018
22 Mar 2018 09:02:09
I'd say no for a couple of reasons. Firstly, I don't think it would be fair to Torres - Torres in a Liverpool shirt automatically has a certain weight of expectation that I don't think he could possibly live up to anymore.

Secondly, and perhaps far more importantly, Torres could not ever hope to provide the energy up front and the constant harrasing of defenders and midfielders that Firmino does. He would be fine as a sub, or in the odd game, but if Firmino took an injury for a month or two (god forbid longer) and we needed long term first choice cover for his position, we'd have to chance how we are playing to accomodate Torres. That's what's so nice about having Ings - he might not have even close to the quality, but we don't have to disrupt 6 or 7 other players on the field to accomodate him so everyone else stays effective. That wouldn't be the case with Torres I fear - I'd much rather be looking at someone who perhaps wasnt as skilled, but had more of a natural synergy with how we work up front - a modern day Emile Heskey if you will.

3.) 22 Mar 2018
22 Mar 2018 09:11:03
Really mate? Torres who sulked and refused to train and refused to play loves the club? That is my only gripe with your post. The suggestion in itself is not crazy if you think about Solanke, but personally i hope Danny Ings stays.

4.) 22 Mar 2018
22 Mar 2018 09:14:59
Its an interesting thought but the way he left was awful and this is coming from someone who absolutely adored him (like many others), more than suarez or whoever etc.

So I don't like him now, he's way past his best and we don't need him.

one of ings or solanke will stay with a versatile fwd brought in.

5.) 22 Mar 2018
22 Mar 2018 09:18:21
Hjikle, i take your first point but I think or rather hope, that Liverpool fans could accept he's older now.

And if Firmino got injured, we could always push Salah through the centre and put Ox or a new player such as Lemar/ Draxler in the front 3. Torres would purely be a sub or a cup striker.

Torres definitely loves Liverpool though. Bellamy wasn't exactly a model pro here and he got a second chance!

6.) 22 Mar 2018
22 Mar 2018 09:29:23
If you say so! Not going to happen and i am grateful for that!

7.) 22 Mar 2018
22 Mar 2018 09:37:58
Nostra how do you know it won't happen? Mr mystic meg over there.

8.) 22 Mar 2018
22 Mar 2018 09:47:53
Pakred, I'm not sure he left in that much of a disgraceful way. When Torres left we were a club in decline and he was one of the most marketable and talented players in world football. He went on to win titles that justified his decision ultimately.

Sterling, Suarez and Coutinho all left us whilst we were on the up. Therefore it felt a little different. At least it did to me.

I Don't remember Torres doing all that much wrong to be honest. The only thing that annoyed me was his first interview with Chelsea. He was scoring goals against Wolves a week before he left. He handed in a transfer request and tried to do it by the book and Liverpool tried to block his career from progressing by rejecting it. Do you remember the state we were in at that point? Mid table, no trophy in 5 years, only just escaped bankruptcy, appointing managers like Hodgson, signing the likes of Konchesky and Poulsen etc. Torres was one of the best strikers in Europe and we were behind the likes of Newcastle, Everton and Aston Villa!

You should check out the things he has said about Liverpool since then though. He loves the club and the City and I'm sure he regrets leaving in some ways because he probably didn't expect us to recover so quickly and win a trophy within 18 months of him leaving. I Don't think you can compare Torres leaving us when we were a bankrupt mid table club by handing in a transfer request, to Suarez leaving us at a time when we were genuine title contenders by threatening to take us to court.

Ultimately, I hope we can convince Danny Ings to sign on but look around at other back up strikers in the league; Lloriente, Ibrahimovich, Giroud etc. It's not a bad thing to have an experienced goalscorer on the bench who won't kick up a fuss about game time. It's hard to find players in their prime years who are happy to get 10 minutes here and there, and then a few games against Northampton Town in the FA cup!

9.) 22 Mar 2018
22 Mar 2018 09:47:13
Your stock must be at an all time high MK not receive any abusive posts here. I don't think its the worst idea to be honest but can't see it happening. Oh and by the way, look at the reasons why Torres left before you spout hate toward him, broken promises and lack of ambition are in there somewhere.

10.) 22 Mar 2018
22 Mar 2018 10:13:01
I agree Nostradamus that it probably won't happen. It's a purely hypothetical discussion. It will be very hard for us to convince a top goalscorer to sign as back up though. Top goalscorers will only sit on the bench for a side who is regularly winning trophies every year.

As Spurs have found, that makes it very hard to find younger goalscorers who will happily cover your first choice attackers, and to a good level. They tried having a young back up in Janssen and he just wasn't the required quality. So now They've taken the route of Lloriente who is a good enough player to give Kane the odd rest, but probably a bit too old to play every week if Kane got injured long term. When Kane is out, they reshuffle the system and bring Lamela into the side instead of a like for like striker replacement.

The thing about goalscorers is that they are in high demand. Therefore they Don't need to accept a bit part role because there will always be someone who needs a striker. The only team in the Premier League with 2 strikers in their best years is Man City with Jesus and Aguero. Before Jesus got injured, Aguero was agitating for a move though and City win things almost every season. Strikers Don't like being rotated because it affects your ability to go on a run of goals and putting it in the net is all about confidence. It is the most important job in the team which is why players who score lots of goals are worth so much money, and aren't geberally prepared to sit on the bench during their best years.

If we can't convince Ings to stay, and Torres is not an option we should be looking at a player like Shinji Okazaki (31 years old, contracted until 2019), Sandro Wagner (30 years old, contracted until 2020) or Burak Yilmaz (32 years old, contracted until 2020). All proven forwards at a high level of the game, none of whom will block Solanke or Brewster from having a future here, and none of whom would break the bank.

11.) 22 Mar 2018
22 Mar 2018 10:16:12
a) As a fan it didn't matter to me the circumstances he left in. The fans idolized him and he just left mid season. We had just got suarez in King Kenny on board so it was not all that bad. By what your saying is that fans don't matter.

b) he left for Chelsea who at that time with all the cl games were bitter rivals. You don't do that to the fans.

12.) 22 Mar 2018
22 Mar 2018 10:18:03
Because we have no interest in 34 year old strikers who forced a move out of the club. But i'll keep the knowing to you ''Salah'', we sign players over 30 all the time, 5-6 every season right? I can only remember Lambert and Milner since FSG took over. that's how i know.

13.) 22 Mar 2018
22 Mar 2018 10:28:08
I know Waro, I'm genuinely amazed at the lack of abuse! Give it time though mate 😉

I agree 100% on Torres. Hard to hate a player for leaving between 2009-2012 because the club was a total mess and FSG didn't have a clue what they were doing in football.

I know our opinions differ on what They've done since then, but the club was an absolute shambles for their first 2 seasons at least. We had muppets like Comolli and Ayre running certain aspects of the club and the likes of Carroll and Downing coming in the door 🤦‍♂️.

14.) 22 Mar 2018
22 Mar 2018 10:30:28
MK Scouser, i respect you opinion and see your point mate and it makes sense while Solanke is developing elsewhere, i just can't see the club suddenly taking a completely different approach to transfers, and what about Solanke, do you think he will come back to Liverpool to sit on the bench if he has 2 great seasons out on loan playing week in week out? He will probably look to move as well if Firmino is number 1 still. Its only an opinion based on what has happened before and who we usually sign, we haven't signed many older players under FSG, Klavan is the only one since Klopp took over. And he was brought in as 4th choice, he has actually got a lot more playing time than he probably thought himself. I think Ings will stay, he is not pushing for a move as of yet and he works very hard which will put him in Klopp's plans.

15.) 22 Mar 2018
22 Mar 2018 10:39:31
Alright mystic meg, no worries mate you obviously have super powers and can see into the future so I can't argue against you. I don't have such gift.

16.) 22 Mar 2018
22 Mar 2018 10:55:10
would rather kai havertz and model him into the bobby false 9 role then either ings or origi for third choice with solanke going out on loan. failing kai werner. why we would want a 34 year old has been who relied on pace is beyond me.

17.) 22 Mar 2018
22 Mar 2018 10:55:37
Since FSG took over we have signed Manninger, Toure, Klavan, Milner, Bellamy and Lambert off the top of my head. There is also current interest in Navas.

I do see your point that it is pretty rare we sign players over 30 since FSG took over. But it also isn't unheard of as an experienced back up option.

I'm not saying Torres is the only option or even the best option. Just that he is the type of goalscorer we need; a player who doesn't moan about game time but still score a you 10 goals a season as a bit part player.

Sturridge, Ings and Solanke have about 3 goals and 7 assists combined.

18.) 22 Mar 2018
22 Mar 2018 10:59:09
Argue all you want mate, i can't believe the sarcasm in your post just because i think we won't be signing torres. Wow, am crazy. But i have no gifts other than using logic. Sorry if that is hard for you to comprehend 'Salat'

19.) 22 Mar 2018
22 Mar 2018 11:04:46
I would be delighted if this happened. I don't think I ever really got over losing Torres. My first LFC heartbreak.

20.) 22 Mar 2018
22 Mar 2018 11:06:37
"Mid table, no trophy in 5 years, only just escaped bankruptcy, appointing managers like Hodgson, signing the likes of Konchesky and Poulsen etc. Torres was one of the best strikers in Europe and we were behind the likes of Newcastle, Everton and Aston Villa! "

Reading this got back so bad memories and pain in me. How much things changed from then to know. And the biggest reason are the owners, whoever doesn't understand that is really not following their work.

21.) 22 Mar 2018
22 Mar 2018 11:07:19
Oh so now you 'think' we won't sign Torres, all morning you've been saying how you 'know' we won't. All banter mate.

22.) 22 Mar 2018
22 Mar 2018 11:13:55
Lerchy, not saying you are wrong, but a has been? Seems harsh on a player currently scoring 10 goals a season for Athletico Madrid despite being 4th choice forward behind Gameiro, Griezmann and Costa.

Torres's 7 goals this season would make him our 5th top scorer. 4th if you Don't include Coutinho who has left.

I like your idea regarding Havertz though. He's a decent young player!

23.) 22 Mar 2018
22 Mar 2018 11:46:02
I think its around 99.99 % probability we won't be signing Torres, that qualifies as knowing in my book, or are you the grammar police? Hehe. Kai Havertz will have a lot of clubs after him and he will be advised to stay where he is for now i think but a great prospect.

24.) 22 Mar 2018
22 Mar 2018 12:39:03
let's be clear, we robbed chelsea of 50mil when we sold torres. he was already a shadow of the player we all remember with misty eyes. now he's even further away from being that player.

the honest truth is he had about a 3 year period where he peaked (with us) and was absolutely sensational. his scoring numbers have been fairly average either side of that spell.

25.) 22 Mar 2018
22 Mar 2018 14:27:02
You know what mk, I couldn't thumbs down it, coz I love Fernando (magic in the air) but I couldn't thumbs up it coz, well because he only has one knee.

It's not the worst idea I've ever heard. And better than a lot I've heard in here. Gabiadini for one. But won't he spend his time in the injury room? Is he capable of working as hard as klopp expects?

I really hope ings stays. I could even see ings getting on a level with Bobby dazzler and playing quite a lot. But if he and Origi and sturridge go then it perhaps is not the worst idea I've ever heard.

We, as liverpool fans, have barely scratched the surface with Dom Solanke. I really think he is going to surprise a lot of people. He simply has not had a run of games with which to stake a claim. Until he has we are not in a position to say he's good or he's poor. What little I saw of him Pre season I was very impressed.

Give the lad a chance before we start handing out second chances to has beens. And as much as I love Robbie Fowler, his second period here can hardly be called successful and the same with Bellamy. Robbie did a job I guess, like I say, I don't know. I couldn't thumbs down or thumbs up. It's imaginative that's for sure. Also, wouldn't torres rather stay in Spain for his last couple of seasons? Rather than uproot his family and come over here?

26.) 22 Mar 2018
22 Mar 2018 15:28:08
I’d rather we looked to make progress than signing Torres. Waste of a wage at his age, very much past it.,

27.) 22 Mar 2018
22 Mar 2018 16:01:00
I just wanted to add something
The talks of him leaving start before 2010 world cup. But after winning the world cup in the team photo he wears a red scarf around his neck and quashed all the rumors. He was ready to stay and said he would like to know what coach think about him and in general where club will be headed. I think he way more gracious than Suarez sterling and coutinho. He loves the club city and he wanted to stay but who will play under roy Hudson.

It was clear he wasn't able to get lfc out of his head which effect his game till he returned to a. Madrid

If kloop want him I will welcome him open heart and arms. If we don't no worry. I personally want ings to flourish now.

28.) 22 Mar 2018
22 Mar 2018 16:29:38
I can understand the reasoning but I don't think Torres's skill set would fit the current squad, as a previous poster mentioned he just wouldn't offer enough. Think we need someone with good energy levels (hopefully Ings stays! ) as a back up.