• Premier League

Hodgson admits Torres has 'beef' with Liverpool

ESPN Soccernet staff
July 25, 2010
Fernando Torres was angered by things that went on during the reign of Rafael Benitez © Getty Images
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Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson has given the clearest indication yet that Fernando Torres could be heading out of Anfield by suggesting the player has a long-standing gripe with the club.

Hodgson, who on Saturday saw his new team lose 1-0 to Kaiserslautern in Germany, said after the game that he was still hopeful Torres would follow captain Steven Gerrard in committing his future to the club. But now it appears something that went on behind the scenes when Rafael Benitez was in charge may ultimately prevent that.

Chelsea are believed to be waiting in the wings with a big money offer should Torres decide he wants to leave Anfield, although the striker is currently out injured with a thigh strain sustained in the last moments of the World Cup final with Spain.

Hodgson told the News of the World: "Unfortunately, I cannot do much more. His beef is with the club and not me. Fernando's situation has nothing to do with me, he made that perfectly clear over the phone during the World Cup and when I met him face-to-face.

"He knows what I would like to do with the club. He knows how much I value him. But his issues are with what has gone on in the past rather than the future. If he has problems with the club for things in the past, it is difficult for me to dismiss that.''

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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