Soccer Extreme : Kenny Dalglish insists Liverpool will not be sidetracked by the Fernando Torres factor when they come face-to-face with their former striker at Stamford Bridge tomorrow.Fate has decreed Torres makes his debut for Chelsea against his old colleagues just six days after completing a controversial £50million move to the four-time English champions.
The Spaniard is almost certain to receive a barrage of abuse from the travelling Kop, their anguish at the player’s departure heightened by comments subsequently made by the striker intimating the transfer means he is only now at a big club.
Dalglish, though, has reiterated his stance that no individual is bigger than the Anfield outfit, with Liverpool having replaced Torres with £35m man Andy Carroll after earlier bringing in £22.75m forward Luis Suarez.
And the Anfield manager is confident his team will not allow the spotlight on Torres to detract from their efforts of gaining a fourth successive Premier League win.
"We are more important than any player they have got," said Dalglish. "We'll play against whoever they put on the pitch.
"These people know the football club is more important than any individual - whether he has been and gone, or is here now.
"I would expect they would relish the battle against him but they have competed brilliantly against everyone since I have come in.
"If our lads are competitive we won't have a problem, but there's no extra spice for me."
Torres had grown disillusioned with life at Anfield and believes moving to Chelsea can help further his career, win trophies and maintain his own presence in the Champions League. (liverpooldailypost)