AFP/London

Chelsea’s Spanish striker Fernando Torres (right) vies with Liverpool’s Slovak defender Martin Skrtel (left) during their English Premier League football match against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge in London, yesterday. (AFP
Fernando Torres suffered a dismal debut as Chelsea’s £50 million striker was substituted following a lacklustre display in his new side’s 1-0 defeat against his former club Liverpool yesterday.
Torres was hauled off after just 66 minutes of his first Chelsea appearance and the Spain striker had even more reason to forget his Stamford Bridge bow when Liverpool’s Raul Meireles bagged the winner for his old team just moments after his premature exit.
The 26-year-old claims he had to join Chelsea because Liverpool are a club in transition with little chance of challenging for major honours. On this evidence, Torres may come to regret his decision to demand a move.
Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish won the tactical battle with his Chelsea counterpart Carlo Ancelotti and defeat leaves the Blues, who are 10 points behind leaders Manchester United, with virtually no chance of retaining the Premier League title.
Dalglish’s side are now just six points behind Chelsea and it is not impossible that Torres could see his former team beat his new club to a place in the Champions League.
There were friendly greetings for Torres from his old colleagues before kick-off, although the Liverpool fans wasted little time giving him a rough ride as they unfurled a host of abusive banners with messages like “once a red, in our hearts you are dead” and “he who betrays will always walk alone”.
Whistles and chants of “Judas” greeted his every touch, but Torres had a golden opportunity to silence those taunts in the second minute.
Maxi Rodriguez’s wayward pass gave Torres a clear sight of goal from the edge of the area but his hurried shot sailed high over the bar.