Liverpool have enjoyed a productive January transfer window as the Anfield side attempt to salvage their season and there have been plenty of changes in the red half of Merseyside (Match Betting – Stoke 3/5, draw 11/4, Stoke 5/1).
Key man Fernando Torres may well be on his way to Chelsea before the window slams shut at 11pm today, Monday, but the Reds have secured a ready-made replacement in the shape of Andy Carroll from Newcastle.
The Magpies rejected two offers from Liverpool before “reluctantly” agreeing to a transfer after Carroll handed in a transfer request at St James’ Park and Newcastle then accepted a £35million offer from the Reds.
Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish has already snapped up Uruguay international Luis Suarez in January and the club legend will be hoping his new-look strike-force can help push the Reds up the Premier League table and possibly even challenge the likes of Chelsea and Spurs for the fourth spot (Liverpool 20/1 to secure a top four finish).
On paper Torres certainly has a better pedigree than Carroll, having played at the top level of football in both Spain and England for a number of years and with a fantastic goalscoring record, while Liverpool fans may question the player’s price-tag after just half a season in the Premier League, albeit a highly impressive one.
However, it is worth noting that the current campaign has been a fairly disappointing one for Torres in comparison to his previous exploits and after the striker handed in a transfer request it seemed inevitable he would leave before the window closed.
Torres’ switch to Stamford Bridge has not yet been finalised but following Carroll’s arrival on Merseyside it seems almost certain he will be a Chelsea player before 11pm today.
Liverpool currently trail fourth placed Chelsea by nine points in the Premier League table but the arrival of Carroll and Suarez could prove vital in their hunt for Champions League football next season.
The Reds remain massive outsiders to secure a spot in Europe’s top competition but if they can go on an unbeaten run things can change quickly – as has already been perfectly demonstrated by Chelsea this season after they relinquished a five-point lead at the top of the table, their own title hunt is now in tatters according to most pundits.
Carroll has not played since December 28 with a thigh injury but should return to action soon and if he can pick up where he left off he could well be the crucial man for Liverpool in their hunt for European football, while Suarez also has a prolific strike record and if he can adapt to life in England quickly he could prove another shrewd bit of business.
Torres may have struggled at Liverpool this season but there is no denying his talent and many pundits had suggested he is no longer happy at Anfield long before he announced his desire to move on.
The fact Torres has been unsettled could well account for his lacklustre displays and a move to Chelsea could see the Spanish star return to form, having shown glimpses in recent weeks, while the chance to link up with the likes of Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba at Stamford Bridge will have been hard to resist.
With Anelka, Torres and Drogba leading the line the Chelsea squad will receive a much needed boost following their unprecedented slump and they could yet challenge for the title at the end of the campaign, although it will take a massive effort with Manchester United currently 10 points clear of Carlo Ancelotti’s men (Chelsea 7/1 to win the Premier League).
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