On this day nine years ago, Fernando Torres was signed by Liverpool Football Club for a then club record fee of around £20 million.
Luis Suarez left a big hole in all the Liverpool supporters hearts when he departed, but it could be argued that Torres left an even bigger one when he moved on.
When signed by Rafael Benitez all those years ago from Atletico Madrid there was a significant amount of hype around the young Spaniard.
When you think about all the great forwards to have put on the famous red shirt over the years, many wondered whether Torres was going to be remembered in Anfield folklore.
His Anfield debut was a moment to cherish for those who were lucky enough to watch Torres in the flesh. In fact, it was such a crucial moment in everything he was going to bring.
The pass from Steven Gerrard, which became the norm for Torres running in on goal, against Chelsea on his home debut saw him stand up his defender, pass him with consummate ease and slot an inch-perfect shot to the far corner – it was pure magic.
That was the first of 81 goals in 142 appearances for the Reds, with so many strikes of the highest calibre.
Aside from his goalscoring pursuits he had a distinct aura the fanbase gravitated towards. It’s never easy to quantify a player’s effect on a proud supporter base such as Liverpool, especially when you consider the great players who came before Torres, however, his boyish looks and passionate celebrations created a ‘Kop love-in’ almost not seen before.
Moreover, the partnership Torres created with Gerrard was on another level – another prime reason why he capture the hearts of Reds fans. The goals they created for each other saw them form one of the deadliest partnerships to ever grace the Anfield turf, as Real Madrid knew all too well when they sliced them to shreds 4-0 at home.
Gerrard described playing with Torres as “easy” and “it just felt like every time I went out onto the pitch with him I was going to play well.”
For Liverpool fans it was a duo from football heaven and perhaps one they took for granted. Only Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge have come close to replicating the telepathic of the Torres and Gerrard combination since.
The departure of Torres on the 31st of January 2011 for a whopping £50 million – the last day of the winter transfer market – left a bitter taste in the mouth of devastated Kopites, whose club was going through a period of severe financial turmoil.
It may not have been Manchester United, but leaving for Chelsea – a team who Liverpool had formed a fiery hostile rivalry with during Torres’ career at Anfield – hurt Reds fans dearly.
An elbow to the face from Daniel Agger in his first game for Chelsea, struggles with form and injury ensued at Stamford Bridge.
Some Liverpool fans revelled in his incredible fall from grace as the most clinical striker in the top-flight to a shadow of his former self.
Now, back at boyhood club Atletico Madrid, Torres has revitalised his career and there must be a portion of Liverpool fans who have accepted his shock departure from the club.
Whatever your opinion is of Torres, nine years after he graced English football, he is undoubtedly one of the best talents to play in the Premier League.
Liverpool fans’ memories of him may be tarnished, however even the most ardent Red will struggle to forget his innate ability to score goals and bring joy to Anfield – his quality at the time is just too hard to dismiss.
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