Fernando Torres undeserving of positive Liverpool reception after Chelsea move says John Aldridge

Fernando Torres did not deserve the positive reception he received from Liverpool fans upon his return to Anfield during the All-Star charity match, according to ex-Reds striker John Aldridge.

Torres, often booed during matches back on Merseyside after his £50m move to Chelsea in January 2011, returned to Merseyside for the first time since leaving the Premier League for the second half of the match alongside Luis Suarez.

The Spanish international was visibly taken aback by the welcome greeting from the Liverpool support, who repeated the applause for Suarez despite his £65m summer move to Barcelona following a successful but albeit controversial three-and-a-half year spell at the club.

But according to Aldridge, who has been a long-time critic of Torres following his deadline day move to Stamford Bridge, the current Atletico Madrid forward did not merit such a positive reaction after the manner of his departure from Liverpool four years ago.

"I think for a lot of players who have left Liverpool in recent years, the game was a reminder of how special our supporters are," he told the Liverpool Echo.

"The reception given to most of the players was absolutely fantastic, and I am sure it will have left a lasting impression on them.

"Luis Suarez, for example, broke a lot of hearts the day he left the club, but he was always going to be welcomed back with open arms.

"Every supporter appreciates what a fantastic player he was for Liverpool, and the effort that he put in every single time he pulled on a red shirt. He was the star attraction on the day, and rightly so.

"I think Fernando Torres, though, can count himself a little fortunate to have got the same kind of reception.

"I certainly don't think he deserved to receive the same kind of ovation as Suarez. People talk about 'forgiveness' with him, but not for me. My thoughts on Torres are well known, and my opinion hasn't changed."