Fernando Torres's decision to join Chelsea in a £50million deal was branded "unacceptable" by former Liverpool team-mate Daniel Agger, who said he would never have moved to a rival club.
The transfer, which took place almost 16 years ago, was highly controversial given the intense rivalry between the two clubs, who had met regularly in the Champions League. Chelsea were Premier League champions at the time, while Liverpool had endured a poor first half of the 2010/11 season.
Torres's comments and Agger's criticism
Torres's remarks after joining the Blues also drew criticism from fans. He said: "This is the target for every footballer, to try to play for one of the top clubs in the world. They [Chelsea] are one of the biggest teams in Europe and are always fighting for everything."
Some of his team-mates were unhappy too. Agger said in 2013: "It is unacceptable to play for one of Liverpool's arch rivals. For a Dane, it's about having respect for the club you play at. I am proud to be able to pull on my Liverpool jersey and will never go to another club in England. I would never go to Manchester United or Everton, for example. It's about a form of respect for the club."
Agger added: "I suppose Liverpool got a lot of money for him and, if the player doesn't want to be there any more, there is no reason to keep him. I should say I think everyone at Melwood liked him and still do, because he is a good guy and we wish him all the best in a blue shirt, except against us."
Impact on Liverpool
The move did not turn out badly for Liverpool, as the club signed Luis Suarez for less than half the fee they received for Torres, who was a complete flop at Chelsea.
Meanwhile, Jordan Henderson is set to return to Anfield with Chelsea for a Carabao Cup tie. The move has not gone down well with some Reds fans, particularly after the 36-year-old tapped the Chelsea badge after scoring in just his second game for the club.
Alonso's view on Henderson
Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso, a former Liverpool legend, explained why he moved for Henderson despite his age. He said: "I see he's 36, but you tell me he's 28 when he was playing in Liverpool, and he was pressing and following the press and wanting the ball and having this impact, having this influence in the rest of the team. [That] hasn't changed that much."
