Liverpool knew they had "kidded" Chelsea when selling Fernando Torres for £50 million ($62m) and that the other players were "shocked" they received such a huge transfer fee, according to Jamie Carragher.
Torres moved from Liverpool to Chelsea on deadline day of the January transfer window in 2011 for what was then a record fee between two Premier League clubs. He did, however, fail to capture the scoring form which had made him such a feared striker at Anfield.
The Spaniard's move to Chelsea is now regarded as one of the biggest English transfer flops of all time - which was no surprise to his former Liverpool team-mate Carragher, who said those on Merseyside were aware that the Blues were buying a player past his peak.
Carragher told Sky Sports : "I couldn't believe it. I knew we had kidded Chelsea. Those last 12 months, he was a shadow of his former self.
"For 18 months at Liverpool, he was the best striker in the world, and I think he had such a good record against Chelsea that obviously stuck in the owner's mind. Chelsea at that stage, I think the owner was still buying players who he wanted, Shevchenko was another case.
"What happened that was fortunate for Liverpool, that season we played Chelsea, and we weren't having a great season and Torres was having a really poor time but he scored two against Chelsea. I think the decision was made then - as soon as January comes, we are going for Fernando Torres.
"£50m was major money at that stage and we were all in a state of shock, we could not believe we had got £50m. We ended up doing something similar ourselves in buying Andy Carroll for £35m, but we did get Luis Suarez out of it.
"I was not surprised at all that it didn't go well."
Carragher was speaking on an online chat with former Chelsea captain John Terry, who said he and his Stamford Bridge team-mates were excited about the arrival of Torres, and were expecting the Spanish forward to fire them to a period of sustained success.
Although Torres did have some success at Stamford Bridge - most notably helping them to their only Champions League triumph in 2012 - he struggled in three-and-a-half years in London before being sold to AC Milan for a cut-price fee in January 2015 following a loan spell.
Terry said: "From a Chelsea point of view, he was the one I hated playing against, he always seemed to score, whether at Anfield or the Bridge. He was the one player Roman would always ask about.
"Yossi [Benayoun] was close to him and told us 'Fernando is on his way'. We were like, 'no way'. We thought we were going to dominate the Premier League and Europe for the next five or six years. This is it. That was our thought from playing against him."
nazadinops
1
Sahla_HDP
0
People can say whatever. Yes, he was a shadow of himself when he went to Chelsea. The injuries had him torn apart. But I'm happu that we get Torres. We wasn't the player he was, but with his experience, he paid the money buy scoring in very important matchs. And I could see that even he wasn't himself, he was always working very hard. C'mon people, he was a shadow but he still played good and scored lot's of goals. He is a Chelsea Legend. Liverpool can say whatever they want, but he did deliver us the money we paid for him buy giving ys important titles.
Obes345
0
At the time, Liverpool were nearly team... so 50m with FA UCL UEL, that's not bad I think 🤔
After 30 year first Elp league
Masterdecor
0
You're nowhere near us mate [Crylaugh][Crylaugh]. Keep dreaming. Small club with big money that's all
life without money is like empty barren,so keep bigger without money[Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
hoeebisms009
0
No premier league tittle for 30 years
You had a 40 year drought as well lol
hoeebisms009
0
One trophy for almost in a decade shame on u
One trophy after a decade still more trophy count than yr club [Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
chelseaboi1905
3
he still scored that goal against varcaxto take ya to the final and then eventually win the champions league so 50 million I'm ok with, caragher who are you again???
KingsleyStan
0
You're nowhere near us mate [Crylaugh][Crylaugh]. Keep dreaming. Small club with big money that's all
No premier league tittle for 30 years
KingsleyStan
0
You're nowhere near us mate [Crylaugh][Crylaugh]. Keep dreaming. Small club with big money that's all
One trophy for almost in a decade shame on u
Foodelmp
2
And we, Chelsea laughed when Caragher Finished his long career without PL trophy 😜😄😄😄 Caragher is annoyed course Torres preferred Chelsea to win trophies and he done it! Torres one goal against Barcelona is enough to think that it was a good Transfer!
ashmil_shaz10
0
he won fa cup, ucl and uel at chelsea And nothing at Liverpool
Yo fool, liverpool won their last fa cup in 2005-06 At that time toress was a athletico player
fauikoru
0
coutinho 145 m [Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh][byebye][Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh]and tren66 0 m[Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
ohfoyf
0
Torres best achievement was at Chelsea not at Liverpool, hope you all know
so 33 goals a season is as much as 1 goal? IK it was one of the most iconic and important in UCL history but still
Yorokiri
0
Money wise yes. But Liverpool is a much much bigger club than Chelski will ever be
we're not talking whose bigger, we're talking abt whose gained in this scenario, you don't have to be defensive
hoeebisms009
0
Yes I can understand. probably we barca fan would react the same way if Neymar celebrates a goal against us in the future. but in an interview some days ago..he said that he loves Liverpool and their fan base.
That is like trying to add sugar into the salt he has already added. There's no point. We will hate him the same way we hate that pathetic King cobra Sterling
ThaMeekZeal
0
Loud mouth Carrager thinking he has right to condemn fellow players. Name dropped Andy Carroll too. I don't know what he thinks of himself.
Messi-goat10
0
We hate him because of last season's CL semi final first leg. He celebrated like he forgot who Liverpool is. Snake is what we label him
Yes I can understand. probably we barca fan would react the same way if Neymar celebrates a goal against us in the future. but in an interview some days ago..he said that he loves Liverpool and their fan base.
hoeebisms009
0
At the time, Liverpool were nearly team... so 50m with FA UCL UEL, that's not bad I think 🤔
Money wise yes. But Liverpool is a much much bigger club than Chelski will ever be
hoeebisms009
0
he won fa cup, ucl and uel at chelsea And nothing at Liverpool
He won Fa Cup at Liverpool ya clown
hoeebisms009
0
nope. They still hate him.
We hate him because of last season's CL semi final first leg. He celebrated like he forgot who Liverpool is. Snake is what we label him
hoeebisms009
0
Every player out of Liverpool team become Flop. Eg Coutinho and Torres, Liverpool is a demon club
Our players are only the best at our club.
hoeebisms009
0
Carragher way of analysis and reasoning is always poor and lack facts. It's obvious he said all from pain and hatreds.Toress was very instrumental in both our Europa and CL victories.Carragher should go back and open his eyes widely,no weed or alcohol,and watch our match in CL against Barca and the final against Bayern.Drogba equaliser was as a result of Torres effort.He got us that corner kick immediately he came on and Drogba headed it into the corner of the pole.We won the CL because of Torres. If not anything at all,we benefited the highest trophy from Toress. What did Lipool benefit from Solanke? It's high time these English pundits start using their brain in their analysis if only they have some .....Carragher such a floppy defender....
Carra was a good defender if you watched him and Solanke? [Crylaugh][Crylaugh]. Where the he'll did that came from
Nesaiknruy_Legend
2
Torres and Gerrard have the same number of UCL trophies, let that sink in. 50 million for Torres in the current climate would be considered robbery. Lautaro commands 100 million so imagine what Torres even off form would demands after 2 or 3 insane seasons at Liverpool demolishing defenders like Terry, Ferdinand, Kompany, Vidic etc. He may have not hit the heights he hit at Liverpool but Torres came in clutch for Chelsea when the moment needed it.
hoeebisms009
0
Just like Newcastle kidded you guys when you signed Carroll and Aston Villa kidded you guys with Benteke!
We needed them at that time so doesn't really matter
hoeebisms009
0
When your mate kidded you,you'll be ok but when someone smaller to you kidded you..[Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh]your name will be sorry..that's Liverpool name
You're nowhere near us mate [Crylaugh][Crylaugh]. Keep dreaming. Small club with big money that's all
hoeebisms009
0
Torres best achievement was at Chelsea not at Liverpool, hope you all know
Torres was the best at Liverpool perhaps the best striker in PL at that time
hazardeden1017
0
Every player out of Liverpool team become Flop. Eg Coutinho and Torres, Liverpool is a demon club
rather every player who joins Barcelona is a flop
Masterdecor
0
When your mate kidded you,you'll be ok but when someone smaller to you kidded you..[Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh]your name will be sorry..that's Liverpool name
King_Keynan
5
We paid £50m for Torres to help us to reach UCL final in 2012 💙
Gunners4ever❤
1
Unpopular Opinion: Liverpool getting £50m for selling Torres is the 2nd biggest robbery in EPL history after Chelsea getting £8m for sending a certain secret agent to sabotage Arsenal😎👊
Morry256
4
When it comes to selling players, Liverpool's transfer committee has always been superior
rodadrst
6
Just like Newcastle kidded you guys when you signed Carroll and Aston Villa kidded you guys with Benteke!
rodadrst
1
Yeah! You knew! Clown!
Lucbimopy
1
at least he is not like benteke or Carroll
EzeOne
11
Torres best achievement was at Chelsea not at Liverpool, hope you all know
Messi-goat10
0
Suarez left in peace that is why
nope. They still hate him.
Messi-goat10
7
Liverpool kidded Barcelona for Coutinho at 145M😂 as well.
Simon_YNWA77
1
he won fa cup, ucl and uel at chelsea And nothing at Liverpool
He won fa cup, league cup and he even won poty I think
Simon_YNWA77
1
Idiotic statement carragher.
Blasebecker
0
Then you need to state it in your comment as you said every player who leave Liverpool that why I ask you that question
OK thanks
Chima92
4
But Torres did help Chelsea in critical moments such as his last minute goal against Barca to fire Chelsea to the UCL final in 2012
meocemrsty
5
Torres lifted champions league @ Chelsea with other 2 cups so it is a great achievement ...I can see u even hate Torres ..shame on u
Natblnpt
3
Carragher way of analysis and reasoning is always poor and lack facts. It's obvious he said all from pain and hatreds.Toress was very instrumental in both our Europa and CL victories.Carragher should go back and open his eyes widely,no weed or alcohol,and watch our match in CL against Barca and the final against Bayern.Drogba equaliser was as a result of Torres effort.He got us that corner kick immediately he came on and Drogba headed it into the corner of the pole.We won the CL because of Torres. If not anything at all,we benefited the highest trophy from Toress. What did Lipool benefit from Solanke? It's high time these English pundits start using their brain in their analysis if only they have some .....Carragher such a floppy defender....
meocemrsty
1
tell us ..Torres @lipoo n Torres @ Chelsea head to head n let's see the floppy.. nonsense article
runblops
4
They say he is a flop.Arguably without him Barca could Hve equalised in2012 we All know What Barca can do.Without Torres Chelsea may Hve Never won a Champions league.Not Bad for those who think He was a flop
Rewaeloy
0
Every player out of Liverpool team become Flop. Eg Coutinho and Torres, Liverpool is a demon club
Then you need to state it in your comment as you said every player who leave Liverpool that why I ask you that question
Blasebecker
0
So is Suarez also a flop ???
Suarez left in peace that is why
Rewaeloy
0
Every player out of Liverpool team become Flop. Eg Coutinho and Torres, Liverpool is a demon club
So is Suarez also a flop ???
Blasebecker
0
What about suarez , mascherano, Arbeloa, Xabi alonzo?
They left Liverpool in peace that is why
lesaceoyz
2