Liverpool Icon Names Torres as the ‘Biggest Flop’

Liverpool legend Mark Lawrenson has named Chelsea striker Fernando Torres as the biggest flop of 2011.

The Spaniard famously left Liverpool in January last year in order to make his acrimonious move to Chelsea, but rather than recapture the form that made him an Anfield hero and one of the most feared strikers on the continent, the 27-year-old has appeared to toil under the weight of expectation at Stamford Bridge.

The aforementioned former Liverpool defender believes Torres' malaise is evidently a physical one and claims the forward will never recapture the form he showed at Anfield.

Torres scored 81 goals in 142 games for Liverpool between July 2007 and his exit to Chelsea in January last year and Lawrenson believes Chelsea are unlikely to see that type of prolificacy again from their record signing.

"If only Chelsea could turn back the clock then surely they would not have splashed £50million on Torres." The former Liverpool star told the Daily Mirror when selecting his 'Biggest flop of 2011. "He hit the winner while I was commentating at Euro 2008. I remember saying he was probably the only striker at the tournament capable of scoring that goal.

"That's why his fall from grace is so staggering. It's physical as he doesn't seem to be able to make the runs he used to do." The former Liverpool defender continued.

"His confidence and belief have also gone (at Chelsea). Liverpool's Andy Carroll cost a lot but is younger. He has time. Torres is out on his own because he was world-class, cost £50m and I don't think he will ever get back to that level (for Liverpool and Spain) again."

Since swapping Liverpool for Chelsea, Torres has netted just three league goals and was recently linked with a cut-price move away from the club, which was subsequently denied by Andre Villas-Boas.