3 weeks ago
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Few clubs have experienced a deadline day quite as unforgettable and frantic as Liverpool's in January 2011.
Despite a disappointing beginning to the 2010/11 campaign under Roy Hodgson, which saw them languishing in seventh position by January, there was a sense of optimism surrounding Anfield. However, the deeply unpopular Hodgson was dismissed and club icon Kenny Dalglish was brought in as manager for the remainder of the season.
Meanwhile, Fenway Sports Group, the present ownership, had recently taken over from Tom Hicks and George Gillett as proprietors. Yet this positive atmosphere was short-lived as news broke that Chelsea were pursuing fan favorite Torres.
The Spanish striker, who had been sensational following his 2007 arrival with 33 goals in his maiden campaign, had become increasingly unsettled. Hamstring problems and knee surgery in 2010 had robbed Torres of his explosive pace, causing his performances to decline despite managing 22 goals in 2009/10.
While the Anfield crowd continued to sing his name with passion, the exit of manager Rafa Benitez - with whom he enjoyed a strong relationship - combined with doubts over the club's ownership situation, caused his focus to waver.
Torres attempted to reaffirm his dedication to Liverpool in August 2010 as he said: "My commitment and loyalty to the club and to the fans is the same as it was on my first day when I signed."
The dreadful displays under Hodgson quickly put an end to that feeling, and Chelsea made their move with a £40million bid on January 27. Liverpool knocked back that offer, maintaining their prized striker remained off the market.
Twenty-four hours later, Torres submitted a transfer request that devastated Liverpool supporters. Come deadline day, Liverpool accepted a colossal £50m offer, establishing a new British transfer milestone and making Torres the sixth priciest player globally at that point.
He penned a five-and-a-half-year contract with the Blues, but the switch to Liverpool's direct Premier League competitors damaged his standing at the club and ensured he faced hostile receptions in subsequent matches.
Already preparing for the necessity of a replacement with time running short, Liverpool secured Luis Suarez from Ajax around 9pm on deadline day for £22.8m, making the Uruguayan the club's priciest signing.
However, they weren't satisfied with just Suarez's capture, feeling they required a Premier League-tested forward. Their own record tumbled mere hours afterwards with moments remaining before the January 31st cut-off, as the Reds pulled off a remarkable £35m swoop for Andy Carroll from Newcastle.
"It's a dream to be able to come and play here," said Suarez upon his arrival. "My ambitions for the future are to do my very best for Liverpool, to try to learn more about English football and to become a champion."
Meanwhile, Dalglish discussed how Carroll could slot into the team following his remarkable emergence at Newcastle that campaign. He said: "He's a big lad but is very good on the deck as well, he has good feet, he's very strong in the air and he'll give us a bit of presence up front.
"He's a little bit different to what we've been used to but it won't change our principles and philosophies of how we want to play."
In total, more than £100m was splashed out in a single day on three forwards. Within a week, there was a preview of what lay ahead: Suarez found the net on his Liverpool bow against Stoke, Torres endured a difficult first Chelsea outing – a loss, predictably, to Liverpool – whilst Carroll remained on the sidelines with a thigh problem.
Torres, despite netting a vital goal in the build-up to Chelsea's 2012 Champions League final victory, proved largely disappointing in west London, whilst Carroll managed just 11 goals for the Reds before departing for West Ham.
Suarez emerged as the genuine successor to Torres at Liverpool. The divisive forward scored 82 goals in 133 outings, including 31 in his final campaign, before securing a major transfer to Barcelona in 2014.
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