Former Liverpool striker Fernando Torres 'felt sorry' for Steven Gerrard after slip against Chelsea

Torres, who spent four years on Merseyside with Gerrard, was on the pitch that day playing for Jose Mourinho's victorious Chelsea

Friday 14 April 2017 10:21 BST

Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres forged a friendship during their time together at Liverpool (Getty)

Fernando Torres has revealed he felt “so sorry” for Steven Gerrard after witnessing the infamous slip which cost his former Liverpool team-mate his best chance of a Premier League winner’s medal.

The Atletico Madrid striker was on the pitch that day playing for Chelsea, whose 2-0 victory at Anfield in April 2014 fatally damaged his former club's hopes of a first league title in 24 years.

Liverpool went behind on the brink of half time after a slip by Gerrard allowed Demba Ba to pick up the loose ball, run through on goal and finish past Simon Mignolet.

Liverpool players who could leave this summer

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1/12Liverpool players who could leave this summer

Liverpool players who could leave this summer

Daniel Sturridge

An electric frontman just three years ago, Sturridge has now lost a bit of that spark due to persistent injury problems. However, according to Jamie Carragher, Sturridge has become irked at speculation linking him with a move away, suggesting he may yet stick around to prove himself. Survival rating: 6/10

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Liverpool players who could leave this summer

Alberto Moreno

Moreno is surely in line to depart this summer, having been frozen out of the starting line-up since the opening day win at Arsenal and kept out by a makeshift left-back. Although he offers an obvious attacking threat, his lack of composure has cost Liverpool too many times in his short Anfield career. Survival rating: 2/10

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Liverpool players who could leave this summer

Simon Mignolet

He may have won his battle with Loris Karius for the starting spot between the sticks, but both may have lost the war. Neither have convinced when given an opportunity and Mignolet is merely the man in possession. There will be concern if that’s still the case come next season’s opening weekend. Survival rating: 8/10

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Liverpool players who could leave this summer

Emre Can

A player with undoubted potential, but one who has consistently under-performed. His contractual situation is a worry, too. Can’s current deal expires in the summer of 2018 and, with negotiations progressing slowly, Liverpool could be tempted to cash in. Survival rating: 7/10

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Liverpool players who could leave this summer

Lucas Leiva

A club stalwart, a fan favourite, but a player undoubtedly coming to the end of his time at Anfield. His contract expires this summer and a renewal would be one borne out of sentiment rather than sense. Survival rating: 2/10

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Liverpool players who could leave this summer

Loris Karius

Like Mignolet, Karius' future will depend on whether Klopp decides to enter the market for a goalkeeper for the second consecutive summer. If he does, last year's signing from Mainz will have a long road back to the first team. He is young, though, and his status as a relatively new signing could work in his favour. Survival rating: 7/10

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Liverpool players who could leave this summer

Ragnar Klavan

Brought in as a fourth-choice centre-back last summer, Klavan shot up the pecking order following Mamadou Sakho’s disciplinary issues. Joel Matip’s injury problems saw Klavan promoted further still and, though he has put in a handful of solid displays, others have been below-par. If a new centre-back arrives and Joe Gomez’s development continues apace, Klavan will be back on the fringes. Survival rating: 7/10

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Liverpool players who could leave this summer

Mamadou Sakho

Sakho is currently out on loan at Crystal Palace and his Anfield career looks all but over after the disciplinary problems which have dogged him. Klopp looks to have made his mind up on the defender, who would be a regular starter if he had his manager's trust. Survival rating: 1/10

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Liverpool players who could leave this summer

Jon Flanagan

Local-born Flanagan is a fan favourite who only signed a new contract last season, but as an old-fashioned full-back, he is perhaps not dynamic enough for Klopp's system. A lack of minutes at loan club Burnley will not have helped his cause. Survival rating: 2/10

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Liverpool players who could leave this summer

Andre Wisdom

Wisdom broke into Brendan Rodgers' Liverpool side during the Northern Irishman's first season at the club, but his progress has stagnated. The 23-year-old may now look to build a career away from English football, having spent this season on loan at Red Bull Salzburg. Survival rating: 2/10

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Liverpool players who could leave this summer

Lazar Markovic

Markovic seems destined to become an expensive Liverpool flop, having flattered to deceive since his £20million move from Benfica in 2014. He could yet enjoy success elsewhere however, and has shown glimpses of his undeniable talent while on loan at Hull. Survival rating: 3/10

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Liverpool players who could leave this summer

Danny Ings

Liverpool's forgotten man has been unlucky with injuries since joining from Burnley. Ings has made just 11 starts in two years following two serious knee injuries. With any luck, Klopp will show sympathy to his beleaguered striker. Survival rating: 6/10

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Torres fostered a close relationship with Gerrard during his four years at Liverpool between 2007 and 2011 and was hurt to see his friend’s misfortune.

"I felt so sorry for Stevie,” he told the BBC’s Football Focus programme. “We didn't have chances to win the Premier League and Liverpool were so close.

“And I know how important it is for Liverpool to win the Premier League after so many years and it was so unfair for Stevie.

“He was the person who really deserved to win the Premier League, but that's football. In one second everything changed.”

Chelsea’s win that day was rounded off by Willian in the fourth minute of added-on time. Torres himself could have administered the coup de grace after going through one-on-one on Mignolet, but instead chose to lay the ball off to his Brazilian team-mate.

When asked why he had not taken a shot at goal for himself, Torres, who sits 20th in Liverpool's all-time scoring ranks, simply said: “I had a team-mate next to me in a better position.”

Torres also hailed Gerrard as the best player he has played with throughout his career, telling Football Focus: “He is everything I needed on the pitch altogether in one player.

“I was a big fan of Stevie before I went to Liverpool but playing with him was much better than I was expecting. It was amazing, by far the best player I played with and I would pay to play with him again.”

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