Match Highlights: Liverpool 2-0 Stoke

Luis Suarez made a goal scoring debut as Liverpool beat Stoke City 2-0 at Anfield on Wednesday night.

The Reds' new No.7 was handed his bow as a second-half substitute, playing just under half an hour and finding the back of the net on 79 minutes after rounding goalkeeper Asmir Begovic and slotting home much to the delight of the Kop.

Raul Meireles had earlier put Liverpool ahead on 47 minutes when he pounced on a loose ball inside the box to fire home his third in four matches.

The result is the Reds' third straight victory and consolidates their position of seventh place in the table.

After a hectic deadline day at Anfield, in which the club broke their transfer record twice in the same 24 hours to bring in Suarez and Andy Carroll, whilst also selling Fernando Torres to Chelsea, it was back to on the pitch matters for Liverpool.

With all transfer activity now done and dusted until the summer, Kenny Dalglish was eager for his side to build on their back-to-back victories in the Barclays Premier League over Wolves and Fulham - six points that had elevated Liverpool up to seventh in the table.

Of the new signings, only Suarez was included in the Reds' 18-man match day squad as Carroll continues to recover from injury - the Uruguayan named on the substitutes' bench alongside the fit-again Jamie Carragher.

Dalglish made three changes to the side that had beaten Fulham last time out, with Lucas Leiva, Fabio Aurelio and Sotirios Kyrgiakos restored to the starting XI.

Meanwhile, Stoke included former Anfield men Jermaine Pennant and Salif Diao in their line-up. [Read more…]

  

Sources: Video courtesy of FootyTube.com and match report by LiverpoolFC.tv

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Liverpool smashed two club record transfer fees on one day

Andy Carroll has completed his transfer from Newcastle United to Liverpool FC and signed a five and a half-year-deal that will keep him at Anfield until 2016.

The club agreed a record transfer fee of £35million with Newcastle earlier yesterday for the transfer of the England international striker.

The deal was subject to the completion of a medical, which the player has now passed.

Andy Carroll will wear the No.9 shirt for Liverpool.

Meanwhile, Luis Suarez has also completed his transfer from Ajax to Liverpool FC and signed a five and a half-year-deal.

The club has also agreed a record transfer fee of up to £22.8million with Ajax for the transfer of the Uruguayan international on Friday.

Luis Suarez will wear the No.7 shirt for Liverpool.

In other transfer deadline story, Daniel Ayala will not be joining Derby County.

It was thought the defender would be heading to Pride Park on an emergency loan, and the player was in Derby this morning to complete his move.

But following further discussions between both clubs and the player it has been decided that Ayala, who is currently recovering from a hamstring injury, will continue his rehabilitation at Melwood with a view to signing for the Rams on emergency loan when the window reopens.

What a dramatic January transfer window deadline for Liverpool Football Club. Fernando Torres are now out of sights, the Reds has signed to new young strikers in Carroll and Suarez. The future at Anfield looks brighter than ever.

Source: LiverpoolFC.tv

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Fernando Torres joined Chelsea for £50million

Liverpool Football Club can confirm Fernando Torres is now a Chelsea player.

The Spaniard completed his move from Liverpool to Stamford Bridge just seconds before the transfer deadline at 11pm.

The 26-year-old had a race against time to complete a medical and finalise paperwork to seal the British transfer record deal of £50million.

But in the last few minutes, the confirmation was given that Torres had completed his controversial move out of Anfield to Chelsea.

The striker has signed a five-and-a-half year contract after agreeing personal terms.

His £50million transfer dwarfs the £32.5million that Manchester City paid for Robinho in the summer of 2008. In fact, only Kaka (£56million, Milan to Real Madrid, 2009), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (£56.5million, Inter to Barcelona, 2009) and Cristiano Ronaldo (£80million, Manchester United to Real Madrid, 2009) have cost more than Torres in the history of the game.

Speaking at Stamford Bridge after finalising the move, Torres, who was also pictured with a Chelsea shirt [sorry, I won’t post his picture in the Blueshit shirt].

   "I am very happy with my transfer to Chelsea and I am looking forward very much to helping my new team-mates this season and for many years to come. Having played against Chelsea many times since coming to England, and in some very big games I will never forget, I know there are many great players here and I will work hard to win a place in the team. I hope I can score some important goals for the supporters to enjoy this season." said Fernando Torres.

Meanwhile, Liverpool have confirmed the loan signing of 17-year-old Coventry midfielder Conor Thomas, with a view to a permanent deal at the end of the season.

Adios, El Nino.

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Sources: Liverpool ECHO, ESPN

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Liverpool full-back joined Forest on loan

Liverpool full-back Paul Konchesky has joined Championship side Nottingham Forest on loan for the rest of the season.

Konchesky has endured a troubled time at Anfield since he was signed by former Reds manager Roy Hodgson from Fulham last August.

The 29-year-old had made 18 appearances for Liverpool this season, but has been unable to win over the club's supporters.

He has not made an appearance since Kenny Dalglish replaced Hodgson as manager earlier this month and had been linked with a return to Fulham.

However, Dalglish has now confirmed that Konchesky has opted to join Forest to boost the club's push for promotion to the Premier League.

Forest manager Billy Davies had been anxious to improve his squad before the transfer window closed and Konchesky could play in Tuesday's game away to Coventry City.

Meanwhile, Kenny Dalglish had nothing to report on Fernando Torres at this morning's press conference, but he did reveal that Jamie Carragher was back from injury and available for Wednesday's clash with Stoke.

In other news, Daniel Ayala has been loaned to Derby.

Sources: LiverpoolFC.tv, SKY SPORTS

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Torres will be a Blues by the end of the day

The Fernando Torres transfer saga is expected to go to the wire but will end with him as a Chelsea player, according to reports in this morning’s British press.

Liverpool have lined up a remarkable £50million worth of transfers for deadline day as they prepare for life without Fernando Torres. The plan includes moves for Ashley Young and Charlie Adam.

Chelsea are willing to pay cash to bring the disaffected Torres to Stamford Bridge in what would be a record transfer between two British clubs, although not the £50million that Liverpool are seeking, which equates to the release clause in the 26-year-old contract should the Anfield club fail to qualify for the Champions League this season.

Torres returned to Liverpool's training ground today following a short break in Spain and he spent over seven hours at Melwood, accompanied by his representatives. He also trained for the first time since stunning Kenny Dalglish and the Liverpool squad with the timing of his transfer request, but he did so alone.

Chelsea have yet to agree a fee with Liverpool over the player whom Roman Abramovich hopes will revitalise their title defence and enhance his chances of bringing the Champions League trophy to London. Negotiations will continue on deadline day, with Chelsea hopeful that Liverpool's asking price will drop to as low as £37million as 11pm approaches, although that appears unlikely. A £35million bid was rejected out of hand by FSG on Thursday and Liverpool's owner views the signing of Suarez as a way to provide support for Torres, not to name his replacement.

   “Chelsea are prepared to meet Liverpool’s £50million valuation of Fernando Torres before the transfer window closes at 11pm” report The Independent.

“Chelsea are planning to make a £45million cash offer for Fernando Torres” according to The Telegraph.

“Chelsea are willing to pay cash to bring Torres to Stamford Bridge in what would be a record between two British clubs” say The Guardian.

Whatever happens over the next 20 hours, Torres has sullied the memories Liverpool fans held of him. He's pulled a knife, stabbed deep and it's hard to see those wounds healed quickly, stay or go.

In 2007, The Times interviewed Dalglish and Torres together. Both had kind words for the other, the mutual appreciation clear.

Torres said: “I’m very proud that I’ve been able to spend time with him. And I’m honoured that he took the time to talk to me. Seeing someone like him makes me even more hungry to continue to work hard and, perhaps, some day, reach his level.”

You'll never make it now, Fernando. Not after this.

And what does Dalglish make of it all? We'll probably never know. But it's a fair bet his opinion has changed from that day four years ago.

Kenny concluded that interview speaking directly to Torres: “Fernando, this is a special club with special fans. They love people who love to wear their shirt. But they’re not daft, they know when it’s real and when it’s just for show, kissing the badge and all that. They love to identify with people on the pitch. And I think they will identify with you very, very easily.”

We did. We don't any more.

Let’s hear your thoughts on Fernando Torres leaving Liverpool FC for Chelsea on the comment box below.

Sources: This Is Anfield, Well Red

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